view both of these film concurrently be not a bad idea to get a sense of early film production and act for the camera style . i give the nod to garbo ( but not by much ) in regard to her naturalness . robeson be majestic . but his performance be aim for a large proscenium theater . something else that strike me be the movie theme of empowerment for woman and minority . there hadn not be any film come out of hollywood yet that allow the voice of marginal character like anna and brutus to take the foreground . these be very progressive film for their time . it quite probable that oneill saw the writing on the wall way before everyone else do about the future of america .