# Flesh and the Devil > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Flesh_and_the_Devil > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Flesh_and_the_Devil.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_and_the_Devil > Source revision: 1344748516 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1926 film by Clarence Brown Flesh and the Devil Theatrical release poster Directed by Clarence Brown Written by Benjamin Glazer Marian Ainslee (titles) Based on The Undying Past 1893 novel by Hermann Sudermann Produced by Irving Thalberg Starring Greta Garbo John Gilbert Lars Hanson Barbara Kent Cinematography William H. Daniels Edited by Lloyd Nosler Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Release date December 25, 1926 (1926-12-25) Running time 109 minutes (USA) 113 minutes (UK) Country United States Languages Silent film English intertitles Budget $372,618.21[1] Box office $1,261,000[2] ***Flesh and the Devil*** is a 1926 American [silent](/source/Silent_film) [romantic drama film](/source/Romantic_drama_film)[3][4][5] directed by [Clarence Brown](/source/Clarence_Brown) and stars [Greta Garbo](/source/Greta_Garbo), [John Gilbert](/source/John_Gilbert_(actor)), [Lars Hanson](/source/Lars_Hanson), and [Barbara Kent](/source/Barbara_Kent). Based on the 1894 novel *[The Undying Past](/source/The_Undying_Past)* by German writer [Hermann Sudermann](/source/Hermann_Sudermann), it was released by [Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer](/source/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) on December 25, 1926. In 2006, *Flesh and the Devil* was selected for preservation in the United States [National Film Registry](/source/National_Film_Registry) by the [Library of Congress](/source/Library_of_Congress) as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[6][7] ## Plot *Flesh and the Devil* (1926) Two childhood friends, Leo and Ulrich, grow up to be soldiers in [Germany](/source/Germany). Leo becomes infatuated with Felicitas, the wife of a powerful [count](/source/Graf) (a marriage about which Felicitas neglects to inform Leo). The count calls for a [duel](/source/Duel) of honor with Leo, but insists that it be done under the false pretense that the quarrel was due to angry words exchanged between the two at a card game to protect the count's reputation. Leo kills the count in the duel, but then is punished by the military by being sent to Africa for five years. Leo asks Ulrich to look after Felicitas, but does not tell him about his feelings for her. Due to Ulrich's intervention, Leo only serves three years before being recalled home. On his return journey, he focuses on his dream of being reunited with Felicitas, but he is shocked to discover that she and Ulrich have married. Despite the marriage, Felicitas repeatedly attempts to rekindle the romance with Leo, who finds himself torn between her and Ulrich. Condemned by a local pastor for continuing to associate with Felicitas, Leo eventually loses control of his emotions and tries to choke Felicitas to death; he is stopped by Ulrich, leading to a climactic duel between the two boyhood friends. While racing to stop the duel, Felicitas falls through a layer of thin ice and drowns. Ulrich and Leo realizes the importance of their friendship and aborts the duel. ## Cast - [John Gilbert](/source/John_Gilbert_(actor)) as Leo von Harden - [Greta Garbo](/source/Greta_Garbo) as Felicitas von Rhaden - [Lars Hanson](/source/Lars_Hanson) as Ulrich von Eltz - [Barbara Kent](/source/Barbara_Kent) as Hertha - [William Orlamond](/source/William_Orlamond) as Uncle Kutowski - [George Fawcett](/source/George_Fawcett) as Pastor Voss - [Eugenie Besserer](/source/Eugenie_Besserer) as Leo's Mother - [Marc McDermott](/source/Marc_McDermott) as Count von Rhaden - [Marcelle Corday](/source/Marcelle_Corday) as Minna **Uncredited** - Max Barwyn as Ball Guest - [Philippe De Lacy](/source/Philippe_De_Lacy) as Leo as a Boy - [Polly Moran](/source/Polly_Moran) as Woman with Bouquet - [Cecilia Parker](/source/Cecilia_Parker) as Twin at Ball and the Church - Linda Parker as Twin at Ball and the Church - [Russ Powell](/source/Russ_Powell) as Family Retainer w/Flag - Carl 'Major' Roup as Train Station Vendor - [Rolfe Sedan](/source/Rolfe_Sedan) as Women's Hat Salesman - [Ellinor Vanderveer](/source/Ellinor_Vanderveer) as Guest at Ball - Glen Walters as Family Retainer ## Production [Publicity still](/source/Film_still) with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert for *Flesh and the Devil*. *Flesh and the Devil*, produced in 1926, premiered at New York's [Capitol Theatre](/source/Capitol_Theatre_(New_York_City))[8] on January 9, 1927[9] and marked a turning point for Garbo's personal and professional life. Initially, she refused to participate in the film. She had just finished *[The Temptress](/source/The_Temptress_(1926_film))* and was tired, plus her sister had recently died of cancer and she was upset that her contract with [Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer](/source/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) did not allow her to take the long trip back to [Sweden](/source/Sweden).[10] A sternly worded letter from MGM (read by Garbo biographer [Barry Paris](/source/Barry_Paris) on the audio commentary for the 2005 DVD release of the film) warned her of dire consequences if she did not report for work. This was a rehearsal of sorts for a pitched battle Garbo would fight against studio heads after *Flesh and the Devil* was completed, which ended up with Garbo becoming one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood up to that time.[11] The romantic chemistry between Garbo and Gilbert was a director's dream because it was not faked. The two actors quickly became involved in their own romantic affair and before production of the film was completed had already moved in together (per Paris' commentary). Hollywood legend has it that it was also during production that Gilbert proposed to Garbo; she accepted, a high-profile wedding was arranged, but Garbo backed out. Paris disputes that this could have happened in the midst of production. Regardless of the chronology, *Flesh and the Devil* marked the beginning of one of the most famous romances of Hollywood's golden age. They would also continue making movies together into the Sound Era, though Gilbert's career would collapse in the early 1930s while Garbo's soared.[11] Garbo was so impressed with Clarence Brown's direction and William Daniels's cinematography that she continued to work with both of them in her subsequent films. Brown directed her in a total of seven films, while Daniels served as cinematographer on all but four of her 25 films for MGM.[11][12] ## Reception In his two reviews for *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times),* on January 10, 1927*[13]*, and January 16, 1927,[14] [Mordaunt Hall](/source/Mordaunt_Hall) focuses on paying tribute to Clarence Brown's direction and the resulting cinematography. On January 10, he describes the film as “Produced with admirable artistry, both in the unfurling of the chronicle and in the character delineation,… "The Undying Past," is a compelling piece of work in which there are but few conventional movie notes.” He describes Garbo as “undeniably alluring,” but does not examine her “impersonation” further. The longer piece in the Sunday paper is packed with in-depth examination of the film. One gets the impression that just as Hall wishes that the picture could have a longer run on Broadway, he would have liked a longer run in the paper.[14] On the other hand, [Carl Sandburg](/source/Carl_Sandburg) found a great deal to appreciate in the portrayal of passion in the film. In his February 18, 1927, review for the [Chicago Daily News](/source/Chicago_Daily_News), Sandburg raved: “If there was ever, in screendom, as earnest an exchange of kisses as that between John Gilbert and Greta Garbo in Flesh and the Devil let him who knows of it speak now or forever hold his peace….Miss Garbo is hereafter a star to be reckoned with, so perfectly does she create a character for the heroine, lovely, pitiful, thrilling Felicitas, who drifts downward without ever realizing that the world holds such things as morals.”[15] On [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes), the film has a rating of 94% based on 16 contemporary and modern reviews.[16] ## Home media *Flesh and the Devil* was restored and released to DVD with *[The Temptress](/source/The_Temptress_(1926_film))* in September 2005 as part of a collection by [Turner Classic Movies](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies) entitled *The Garbo Silents Collection*. The DVD includes an alternative, upbeat ending. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-WalkerMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer1980_1-0)** Alexander Walker; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (October 1980). [*Garbo: a portrait*](https://books.google.com/books?id=nmZZAAAAMAAJ). Macmillan. p. 184. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-02-622950-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-02-622950-0). Retrieved July 27, 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-glancy_1992_2-0)** Glancy, H. Mark (January 1992). "MGM Film Grosses, 1924–1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger". *[Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television](/source/Historical_Journal_of_Film%2C_Radio_and_Television)*. **12** (2): 129. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/01439689200260081](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F01439689200260081). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0143-9685](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0143-9685). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** *[Variety](/source/Variety_Film_Reviews)* film review; January 12, 1927, page 14. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** *[Harrison's Reports](/source/Harrison's_Reports_and_Film_Reviews)* film review; January 15, 1927, page 10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Institute1971_5-0)** American Film Institute (1971). [*The American Film Institute catalog of motion pictures produced in the United States*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rlLbRAPOgP0C&pg=PA253). University of California Press. p. 253. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-520-20969-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-520-20969-5). Retrieved July 19, 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Librarian of Congress Adds Home Movie, Silent Films and Hollywood Classics to Film Preservation List"](https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-06-234/films-added-to-national-film-registry-for-2006/2006-12-27/). *Library of Congress*. Retrieved October 2, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Complete National Film Registry Listing"](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/). *Library of Congress*. Retrieved October 2, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Flesh and the Devil"](http://www.garboforever.com/Film-11.htm). *garboforever.com*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-RobinsonDuncan2007_9-0)** David Robinson; Paul Duncan (2007). [*Greta Garbo*](https://books.google.com/books?id=A3daNQAACAAJ). Taschen. p. 180. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-8228-2209-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-8228-2209-8). Retrieved July 18, 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Paris, Barry. Commentary track on *Flesh and the Devil*. DVD. Warner Brothers / Turner Entertainment, 2005. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_11-2) ["Flesh and the Devil"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120823093822/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/153/Flesh-And-The-Devil/#overview). *Turner Classic Movies*. Archived from [the original](https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/153/flesh-and-the-devil#overview) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Greta Garbo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110920172927/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/68274%7C63540/Greta-Garbo/#overview). *Turner Classic Movies*. Archived from [the original](https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/68274%7C63540/Greta-Garbo#overview) on September 20, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [""The Undying Past.""](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1927/01/10/117988419.html?pageNumber=20). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved September 6, 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_14-1) ["A WELL-TOLD STORY; " Flesh and Devil" Has Interesting Backgrounds and Camera Effects By MORDAUNT HALL"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1927/01/16/96630974.html?pageNumber=167). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved September 6, 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Sandburg, Carl; Fetherling, Dale; Fetherling, George (1985). [*Carl Sandburg at the movies : a poet in the silent era, 1920-1927*](https://archive.org/details/carlsandburgatmo00sand/mode/2up?q=Garbo). Internet Archive. Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8108-1738-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8108-1738-8). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Flesh and the Devil | Rotten Tomatoes"](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/flesh_and_the_devil). *www.rottentomatoes.com*. Retrieved September 6, 2024. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Flesh and the Devil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Flesh_and_the_Devil). English [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource) has original text related to this article: **[Flesh and the Devil](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Flesh_and_the_Devil)** - [*Flesh and the Devil*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016884/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [*Flesh and the Devil*](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/153/enwp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived) - [*Flesh and the Devil*](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/9106) at the *[AFI Catalog of Feature Films](/source/AFI_Catalog_of_Feature_Films)* - [*Flesh and the Devil* essay by Daniel Eagan in *America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry*](https://books.google.com/books?id=deq3xI8OmCkC), A&C Black, 2010 [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0826429777](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0826429777), pages 122-124 v t e Films directed by Clarence Brown The Great Redeemer (1920) The Last of the Mohicans (1920) The Foolish Matrons (1921) The Light in the Dark (1922) The Acquittal (1923) Don't Marry for Money (1923) The Signal Tower (1924) Butterfly (1924) The Eagle (1925) The Goose Woman (1925) Smouldering Fires (1925) Flesh and the Devil (1926) Kiki (1926) The Trail of '98 (1928) The Cossacks (1928) A Woman of Affairs (1928) Navy Blues (1929) Wonder of Women (1929) Anna Christie (1930) Romance (1930) Inspiration (1931) Possessed (1931) A Free Soul (1931) Emma (1932) Letty Lynton (1932) The Son-Daughter (1932) Looking Forward (1933) Night Flight (1933) Sadie McKee (1934) Chained (1934) Ah, Wilderness! (1935) Anna Karenina (1935) Wife vs. Secretary (1936) The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) Conquest (1937) Of Human Hearts (1938) Idiot's Delight (1939) The Rains Came (1939) Edison, the Man (1940) Come Live with Me (1941) They Met in Bombay (1941) The Human Comedy (1943) The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) National Velvet (1944) The Yearling (1946) Song of Love (1947) Intruder in the Dust (1949) To Please a Lady (1950) Angels in the Outfield (1951) When in Rome (1952) Plymouth Adventure (1952) v t e Irving Thalberg Producer The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) Merry-Go-Round (1923) His Hour (1924) He Who Gets Slapped (1924) The Unholy Three (1925) The Merry Widow (1925) The Tower of Lies (1925) The Big Parade (1925) Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) Torrent (1926) La Bohème (1926) Brown of Harvard (1926) The Road to Mandalay (1926) The Temptress (1926) Valencia (1926) Flesh and the Devil (1926) Twelve Miles Out (1927) The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927) London After Midnight (1927) The Crowd (1928) Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928) White Shadows in the South Seas (1928) Show People (1928) West of Zanzibar (1928) The Broadway Melody (1929) The Trial of Mary Dugan (1929) The Voice of the City (1929) Where East Is East (1929) The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1929) The Hollywood Revue (1929) Hallelujah (1929) His Glorious Night (1929) The Kiss (1929) Anna Christie (1930) Redemption (1930) The Divorcee (1930) The Rogue Song (1930) The Big House (1930) The Unholy Three (1930) Let Us Be Gay (1930) Billy the Kid (1930) Way for a Sailor (1930) A Lady's Morals (1930) Inspiration (1931) Trader Horn (1931) The Secret Six (1931) A Free Soul (1931) Just a Gigolo (1931) The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) The Guardsman (1931) The Champ (1931) Possessed (1931) Private Lives (1931) Mata Hari (1931) Freaks (1932) Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) Grand Hotel (1932) Letty Lynton (1932) As You Desire Me (1932) Red-Headed Woman (1932) Smilin' Through (1932) Red Dust (1932) Rasputin and the Empress (1932) Strange Interlude (1932) Tugboat Annie (1933) Bombshell (1933) Eskimo (1933) Riptide (1934) The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934) The Merry Widow (1934) What Every Woman Knows (1934) No More Ladies (1935) China Seas (1935) Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) A Night at the Opera (1935) Riffraff (1936) Romeo and Juliet (1936) Camille (1936) Maytime (1937) A Day at the Races (1937) Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) The Good Earth (1937) Marie Antoinette (1938) Writer The Trap (1922) People Norma Shearer (wife) Irving Thalberg Jr. (son) Related The Last Tycoon Authority control databases International VIAF National France BnF data --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Flesh and the Devil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_and_the_Devil) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_and_the_Devil?action=history)). 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