78 year ago . the premiere of anna christie advertise by the slogan garbo talk . the film run for 16 minute and the viewer reach the climax of curiosity represent greta enter the bar and get through a long awaited transfer from silence into sound represent a few second close her silent era and and at last and greta garbo say a historic line represent gim me a whiskey and ginger ale on the side and do not be stingy and baby . anna christie ( 1930 ) be the movie by clarence brown that introduce a great silent star greta garbo to talkie . nowadays and we can only imagine what serious transfer it be for actor and actress . the career of many be bind to end something we hardly or not at all see at present . and it be no coincidence that it be clarence brown who direct the first talkie with the swedish beauty . garbo trust the director after two of his great silent production and flesh and the devil ( 1926 ) and a woman of affair ( 1928 ) represent movie that achieve a smashing success at the box office and both with garbo in the lead . but we be in 2008 and that fact about the movie and now purely historical and appear to be of minor importance . the question for today viewer be not what garbo voice sound like but if the movie be still watchable after these 78 year . in other word and we all strive to answer the question if the movie have stand a test of time . have it . when i recently watch it and i come into conclusion that and except for some minor technical aspect and include static camera and anna christie be still very entertaining . it and on the one hand and a wonderful story of a life and of a reality that the young woman face ( be base on eugene oneill play ) and and and on the other hand and an artistic manifestation of true magnificence in the field of direction and act . let me analyze these two aspect in separate paragraph . content represent chris christopherson ( george f marion ) and a heavy drinker and live a life of a sailor and on a barge . although his day be fill with sorrow and he be console by a letter from his daughter anna ( garbo ) whom he hasn not see for 15 year . she say that she will come back to him . he start to change everything for good while however forget that his daughter be no longer a child lack experience but a 23 year old woman who have get through various sort of thing on a farm in minnessota where she live and work . moreover and he forget that she have a right to accept another kind of male love in her life . this brief presentation of the content not from the perspective of the main character but the one which be introduce to u sooner than anna ( her father chris ) make you realize how universal it be . simply no letter from the whole text that life appear to be have be erase after all these year . case discuss here in 1930 be still meaningful and valid . performance . there be not many character in the movie and but there be two that really shine in the role . it be of course greta garbo herself who do something extraordinary in her 15 year long phenomenon and the presence that strongly mark the history of early cinema ( something i have already discuss in many of my early comment on her film ) . but here and garbo be slightly different . i admit that there be moment in this movie when she do not feel very comfortable with her role . that seem to be cause by her new experience with sound in english while however and her performance be and a always and genuine and unique . but that be what everyone have expect from garbo . the true surprise of the movie for the 1930 viewer and also for u be marie dressler a marthy . she be excellent in her facial expression and in her accent and in the entire portrayal of a drinking woman who look at life from the perspective of hit the bottle . her best moment include the conversation with anna christie in the bar precede by her hilarious talk with chris . the rest of the support cast be fine yet not great whatsoever ( here the german version make up for it ) . particularly dressler and except for garbo herself and constitute an absolutely flawless choice . if you ask me what i like about anna christie nowadays and that what i would tell you represent it a classic movie . however and there be one more thing that i must mention at the end . it be humor and wonderful wit that be noticeable throughout . although the content be quite serious and anna christie in no way carry a comedian spirit ( the only garbo comedy be ninotchka ) and there be such moment when you will split your side . don not skip and for instance and anna and matt visit in the fun park and particularly at the restaurant where he order milk for her thinking how virtuous and innocent she be and beer for himself and where suddenly marthy join them by chance . anna christie be a perfect movie for classic buff and a must see for all at least a bit interested in the true magnificence of performance . if you be feed up with many of those modern starlet and seek such movie out and you shall be satisfy . very worth your search . skaal greta garbo . skaal marie dressler . let u drink a toast to the great job you do in the movie . skaal after all these year when wine taste much good and your spirit be with u in a different sense .