Wild Orchids (film)
| Wild Orchids | |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | Sidney Franklin |
| Written by | Hanns Kräly, Ruth Cummings, Willis Goldbeck and Richard Schayer, based on John Colton's story Heat |
| Starring |
Greta Garbo Lewis Stone Nils Asther |
| Music by | William Axt (uncredited) |
| Edited by | Conrad A. Nervig |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language |
Silent English intertitles |
| Budget | US$322,312.12 ($4,496,000 today) |
| Box office | $1,165,000 ($16,250,000 today) |
Wild Orchids is a 1929 drama film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer directed by Sidney Franklin and starring Greta Garbo, Lewis Stone and Nils Asther. Only these three stars received cast credit.
John Sterling (Lewis Stone) takes his young wife Lillie (Greta Garbo) to Java where he plans to invest in tea plantations. Beyond the difference in years between the two, he is neglectful, which creates reactions of frustration from his romantic young wife.
Aboard a ship, Lillie witnesses a scene of cruelty – a passenger hits one of his servants. The violent man is immediately taken by the beauty of this mysterious woman and will endeavor all to make her acquaintance. Therefore, he contacts the husband, whom he attracts with his deep knowledge of the Javanese tea market. John presents his new friend, the young and handsome Prince de Gace (Nils Asther) to his wife, who immediately recognizes the violent man. Multiple situations offer the Prince a chance to approach Lillie, who spurns him. He then uses force to kiss her - Lillie tries to talk to her husband, in vain.
In Java, the couple are hosted by the Prince, at this vast estate. Lillie avoids being alone with the Prince – she even wishes to join her husband in his professional investigations, which he refuses. Finally, Lillie and the Prince are alone for a few hours, and his efforts intensify. He forces himself upon her again, and she finally yields and returns his kiss.
John returns to surprise the kiss in Chinese shadows, raising the question of whether the woman embracing De Gace is his wife. His suspicion confirmed by a misplaced necklace, the men go on a tiger hunt. The Prince is hurt. John decides to return to the United States alone, but his wife reaffirms her love for him.
The plot is very similar to Garbo's later sound film, The Painted Veil (1934).
Production took place between October and November 1928, in Hollywood, California (USA). During production, Garbo spent one day filming a cameo appearance for the James Cruze film A Man's Man. Production stills photographs were made by James Manatt and production portraits were taken by Ruth Harriet Louise on October 1928.
This is often listed as a "silent" film, but it is not. It was released as a sound film, with a complete orchestral score and sound effects, retained on both the VHS and DVD releases.
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