As You Desire Me -

“Garbo (sporting a peroxide wig some of the time) brings a real erotic undertow to the love scenes, while Stroheim is terrific as the demonically sadistic writer trying to model her as one of his own creations.” Rotten Tomatoes

The story follows a cabaret singer in Berlin, played by , who may be an amnesiac Italian countess named Maria. She is tracked down by a friend of Maria's husband, Bruno (Melvyn Douglas), and returns to an Italian villa to reclaim her life. As You Desire Me

: A central theme is that identity is an artificial construct; the heroine declares she will be whoever those around her believe her to be. “Garbo (sporting a peroxide wig some of the

The 1932 film As You Desire Me is a complex romantic drama based on a play by . It serves as a stark example of a "problem play" that explores the fluid nature of truth and identity. Critics often highlight it as a definitive "Garbo vehicle" that leverages the star's "mystic quality" and "phenomenal screen presence" . Plot and Themes The 1932 film As You Desire Me is

“Melvyn Douglas really was a bore in that one, I liked the Stroheim character far better. It would also have been nice to make his relationship with Garbo more ambiguous.” NitrateVille.com · 13 years ago