Torrent (1926 film)

Torrent
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Monta Bell (uncredited)
Produced by	Irving Thalberg
Written by	Vicente Blasco Ibáñez Dorothy Farnum (adaptation)
Starring	Ricardo Cortez Greta Garbo
Cinematography	William H. Daniels
Edited by	Frank Sullivan
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	February 21, 1926
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent film English intertitles
Budget	$250,443.27

Torrent (1926) is an American silent romantic drama film directed by an uncredited Monta Bell, based on a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, and released on February 21, 1926.

Torrent was the first American film starring Swedish actress Greta Garbo. The film also starred Ricardo Cortez as the son of a domineering mother, played by Martha Mattox.

The title refers to a flood that occurs in the small town where most of the action takes place, which draws the two romantic leading characters closer together.

The wealthy matriarch Dona Bernarda Brull (Mattox) is irritated by her son Rafael's infatuation with the orange farmer's (Edward Connelly) daughter, Leonora (Garbo). She forbids him to see her, something that causes Leonora great heartache, to say nothing of her family's financial condition. Using the singing talent cultivated by her wannabe father Pedro, Leonara leaves her humble home to later become a sensation on the stages of Paris, as La Brunna, where nobleman and other rich gentleman express their approval of her "talents".

Meanwhile, back in their small Spanish town of Alcira, Valencia where Leonora's father has died, Dona Bernarda Brull's domineering influence has brought Rafael to the brink of being elected to office. She's also arranged for her son to marry the wealthy Remedios Matías (Gertrude Olmstead), the daughter of a rich hog farmer (Mack Swain). However, just before both of these events are realized, La Brunna returns to her humble beginnings to visit her mother Pepa (Lucy Beaumont) and barber friend Cupido (Lucien Littlefield). Incognito, she gives Rafael the impression that she is still poor, and nearly destitute. When the proud soon-to-be-elected official visits Cupido, Leonara reveals that she is the famous La Brunna. Naturally, he is irresistibly drawn to her, which though it doesn't keep his inevitable election from happening, it does threaten his marriage to Remedios ... that is until his mother intervenes once again. Some time after the flood (the torrent), though not on that particular night, Leonara and Rafael spend a night of passion together amidst the orange groves, Dona Bernarda Brull visits Pepa to tell her of the shame which has been brought upon her home.