One film, two endings: Greta Garbo in 'The Temptress' (1926) this afternoon in Newport, R.I.

An original lobby card for MGM's 'The Temptress' (1926) starring Greta Garbo.

What better way to get in the mood for Valentine's Day than watching Greta Garbo lure men to their doom?

That's what you'll get with 'The Temptress' (1926), a relatively unknown MGM drama that I've found plays surprisingly well with contemporary audiences.

I'm doing live music for 'The Temptress' today (Saturday, Feb. 11) at 4:30 p.m. at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport, R.I. More info about the screening is in the press release pasted in below.

For one thing, 'The Temptress' does what all the best movies do, I think: it transports us to places we would almost never visit on our own. (In this case, it's the rough Argentinian back country, with some Parisian high society thrown in for contrast.)

Plus, it has a great cast, a strong story, and a series of dramatic encounters that sizzle with intensity but don't cross the line into parody. It still works.

And, like some pictures from that era, it has two very different endings. As the story goes, MGM studio boss Louis B. Mayer wasn't happy with the story's original tragic ending, and so ordered a new one.

Both survive, with the "happy" ending used for release prints in the U.S., while the "tragic" denouement was used in Europe. 

We'll show them both this afternoon so you can decide for yourself. More details below. Hope to see you in Newport!

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Greta Garbo and Antonio Moreno in 'The Temptress' (1926).

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25, 2023 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more info, contact: Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com

Greta Garbo stars in 'The Temptress' (1926), a film with two endings, on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Newport

Both conclusions to be shown when steamy silent romantic drama is screened with live music at Jane Pickens Theatre; perfect for Valentine's Day

NEWPORT, R.I. — It's a film with two completely different endings: one sad and tragic, and the other uplifting and positive.

It's 'The Temptress' (1926), an MGM romantic drama starring Greta Garbo, then just starting a legendary Hollywood career.

Studio boss Louis B. Mayer found the original ending to 'The Temptress' so depressing, he ordered a second—and much happier—conclusion.

See both endings when 'The Temptress' is screened with live music on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 4:30 p.m. at the Jane Pickens Theatre Film and Event Center, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.

The screening, the latest in the venue's silent film series, will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films.

Admission is $15 per person; members $13. Tickets are available online or at the door.

"A silent romantic drama is a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day," Rapsis said. "At their best, these movies celebrated the big emotions, including love, and they still speak to us today."

In 'The Temptress,' Garbo plays Elena, the wife of Monsieur Canterac (Lionel Barrymore) and the mistress of rich Parisian banker Monsieur Fontenoy (Marc MacDermott).

When the banker's friend Robledo (Antonio Moreno), a dynamic young engineer building a massive dam in Argentina, visits Paris, the fickle Elena immediately falls in love with him.

Elena follows Robledo to Argentina, where her presence leads to a whip duel between Robledo and his rival, Manos Duros (Roy D'Arcy).

She then indirectly causes the collapse of Robledo's dam, which is where the two versions of the film diverge.

In the original version, Elena returns to Paris and the movie concludes tragically.

The revised version sees the film end in Argentina on a much happier note.

Both endings will be screened at the Jane Pickens Theatre: first the original "tragic" conclusion, then the more optimistic ending.

Garbo, who first won notice in her native Sweden, came to Hollywood at age 19. 'The Temptress,' her second film for MGM, helped establish her as a major star.

Initially, the director of 'The Temptress' was Garbo's mentor-lover, the brilliant Mauritz Stiller. But he was replaced halfway through by Fred Niblo, giving 'The Temptress' two different styles.

Silent film accompanist Jeff Rapsis will improvise a musical score to 'The Temptress' in real time as the movie is screened.

In creating music for 'The Temptress' and other vintage classics, Rapsis tries to bridge the gap between silent film and modern audiences.

"Live music adds an element of energy to a silent film screening that's really crucial to the experience," Rapsis said.

The romantic drama ‘The Temptress’ starring Greta Garbo will be shown with live music on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 4:30 p.m. at the Jane Pickens Theatre Film and Event Center, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.

Admission is $15 per person; members $13. Tickets are available online at www.janepickens.com or at the door. For more information, call the box office at (401) 846-5474.