Conquest (1937)

Directed by Clarence Brown. Starring Greta Garbo, Charles Boyer, Reginald Owen, Alan Marshal, May Whitty, Henry Stephenson, Maria Ouspenskaya, Leif Erickson, C. Henry Gordon.

Generically-titled period piece as a historical soaper: Charles Boyer is Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, Greta Garbo is Countess Marie Walewska, and, yep, they’re doomed (romantically speaking). Satisfying performances, elaborate costuming, dull script. Director Clarence Brown struggles to make scenes of emotional outpouring feel natural, and the seriousness of the story suffers. He might not be alone to blame, however, since some of the directing duties were handled by an uncredited Gustav Machatý. Photographed by Karl Freund.

56/100