greta garbos american film debut analogy lives swept course fate actions torrent causing us lose part along waybr br greta plays leonora poor peasant girl love ricardo cortezs character rafael landowner ricardo love too easily influenced domineering mother leonora ends homeless travels paris becomes famous opera singer develops reputation loose woman reality part attitude bitterness rafaels abandonmentbr br she returns home visit family eventually confronts rafael surprisingly one knows famous la brunna garbo acts role diva truly prised cool haughtiness later portrayalsbr br ricardo cortez reminds one lot valentino looks part groomed valentino clone mgm though never thought could reality right believable unsympathetic part weak willed mamas boy allows age realistically comically end movie fails win leonora returns home later follows her courage underminedbr br this movie beautifully shot brilliant storm sequences sets depicting spain time authentic looking also fine secondary performances old timers lucien littlefield tully marshall mack swainbr br although story lost love missed chances think leonora rafael would happy together needed traditional wife much career woman think would happy small village ending true life pulls punchesbr br see one garbos american film debut precursor things come