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.
Are you interested in more , or perhaps more screen adaptations of Luigi Pirandello's work? As You Desire Me (1932) - NitrateVille.com
Community members often debate the performances and the film's eccentric tone. 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
: A central theme is that identity is an artificial construct; the heroine declares she will be whoever those around her believe her to be. The story follows a cabaret singer in Berlin,
While some find the film "slow moving" or "creaky" by modern standards, it is still considered a "fascinating" piece of cinema for its "histrionic battle" between Garbo and von Stroheim. Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes and NitrateVille.com suggest that while the plot may be "hokey," the star power and philosophical depth make it worth watching. Viewer Perspectives
“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 As You Desire Me (1932) - NitrateVille
: The film is known for its opulent costumes designed by Adrian , including Garbo's notable peroxide blonde wig and striking "Cap without a lid". Critical Consensus