Ninotchka

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Ninotchka

1939,

1h 50m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

94%

36 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A no-nonsense diplomat of the Soviet Union, Nina Ivanovna Ninotchka Yakushova (Greta Garbo) arrives in Paris to ensure the sale of jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. Meanwhile, carefree bachelor Count Leon d'Algout (Melvyn Douglas) attempts to intercept the valuables on behalf of their former owner, the Grand Duchess Swana (Ina Claire). Despite their conflicting allegiances, the icy Ninotchka soon warms to Leon's charms, reluctantly going against her better judgment.

Critics Consensus

With Greta Garbo proving her comedy chops in the twilight of her career, Ninotchka is a can't-miss classic.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

May 9, 2016

The romantic roundelay, linking fine emotions with fine lingerie, is shadowed by the brutality of Soviet tyranny.

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Whittaker Chambers

TIME Magazine

Jan 15, 2013

This one is neither crude clowning nor crude prejudice, but a literate and knowingly directed satire which lands many a shrewd crack about phony Five Year Plans, collective farms, Communist jargon and pseudo-scientific gab.

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Dec 27, 2012

5/5

Ninotchka is delicate flirtation and political satire made into a perfect whole, and a reminder of skills that studio writers have largely lost.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 16, 2025

3.5/4

Billy Wilder and Charles Bracket contributed to the screenplay, as evidenced by the number of brilliant and biting exchanges.

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Tony Sloman

Radio Times

Aug 22, 2024

5/5

This is without doubt one of the funniest, most original screen comedies ever made, and from the greatest year in Hollywood's history.

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Pare Lorentz

McCall's

Oct 30, 2023

The picture itself might have been a very amusing satire at the expense of the Russians if it had been made with any thing lighter than a loaded baseball bat.

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George R

Aug 20, 2018

Somehow I'm taken aback by how quickly Garbo's character changes from one scene to the next (which is in fact coherent with the film's obvious anti-Sovietism and casual sexism), but her magnetic presence and the excellent dialogue make everything an enormous pleasure to watch.

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George R

Apr 21, 2018

Rubych Touch plays the finest rhythm and harmony in this movie. "Do not say that you want pictures, because I do not want being put in drawers," Garbo whispers in Husky is beautiful even in Moscow marching.

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Han R

Dec 7, 2017

Delicious cinema. It's like tasting a good wine. The movie is relevant today more than ever. It is witty, comedic, romantic and very enjoyable. And what is really surprising it's very accurate in its satiric depiction of communism. It doesn't exaggerate, it doesn't belittle, it shows the real face of communism (without gore, of course). Greta Garbo shines in the title role. The story itself is wonderful in its timeless appeal, for all ages. The dialogue in this movie is another wonder: the film doesn't waste a single line of it. They just don't make movies like this anymore.

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Albus S

Sep 24, 2017

Garbo's dead pan delivery to Melvyn Douglas' flirtations are comedic gold. The 3 supporting Russian emissaries are just perfect. A great Rom-com and send up of soviet communism.

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Harry S

Jul 2, 2017

Funny movie with Greta Garbo, Mervyn Douglas. "Garbo laughs"

Ron P

Oct 27, 2016

Love it. Only seen it twice. Far too early to review it. Lubitsch, Wilder, Garbo. What more could you ask for?

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Ernst Lubitsch

Director

Greta Garbo

Ninotchka (Nina Ivanovna Yakushova)

Melvyn Douglas

Count Leon d'Algout

Ina Claire

Swana

Sig Ruman

Michael Simonavich Iranoff

Felix Bressart

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Synopsis

A no-nonsense diplomat of the Soviet Union, Nina Ivanovna Ninotchka Yakushova (Greta Garbo) arrives in Paris to ensure the sale of jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. Meanwhile, carefree bachelor Count Leon d'Algout (Melvyn Douglas) attempts to intercept the valuables on behalf of their former owner, the Grand Duchess Swana (Ina Claire). Despite their conflicting allegiances, the icy Ninotchka soon warms to Leon's charms, reluctantly going against her better judgment.

Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Producer: Ernst Lubitsch
Screenwriter: Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter Reisch
Distributor: Loew's Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Loew's Inc., Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 1939, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Mono

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