A young girl (Greta Garbo), recovering from an undisclosed illness, reunites with the sea going father (George F. Marion, recreating his original stage role) she hasn't seen in 15 years. A burly sailor (Charles Bickford) falls for her. But she keeps her secret past as a prostitute from both men. Based on the Eugene O'Neill play, this was Garbo's first talking picture. She has one of the great film introductions of all time, "Gimme a whiskey, ginger ale on the side and don't be stingy, baby!". Alas, nothing that follows equals that iconic moment. Directed by the usually adept Clarence Brown (
NATIONAL VELVET), it's a stilted piece of movie making barely disguising its theatrical roots. I'm not even sure it's one of O'Neill's best plays. Even Garbo seems unsure though she becomes vibrantly alive in her big scene where tells off her father and her lover. With the great Marie Dressler as a boozy waterfront tramp, stealing whole scenes effortlessly.
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