As You Desire Me -

Community members often debate the performances and the film's eccentric tone.

“Garbo (sporting a peroxide wig some of the time) brings a real erotic undertow to the love scenes, while Stroheim is terrific as the demonically sadistic writer trying to model her as one of his own creations.” Rotten Tomatoes

: A central theme is that identity is an artificial construct; the heroine declares she will be whoever those around her believe her to be. As You Desire Me

“Melvyn Douglas really was a bore in that one, I liked the Stroheim character far better. It would also have been nice to make his relationship with Garbo more ambiguous.” NitrateVille.com · 13 years ago

: The film is known for its opulent costumes designed by Adrian , including Garbo's notable peroxide blonde wig and striking "Cap without a lid". Critical Consensus Community members often debate the performances and the

The 1932 film As You Desire Me is a complex romantic drama based on a play by . It serves as a stark example of a "problem play" that explores the fluid nature of truth and identity. Critics often highlight it as a definitive "Garbo vehicle" that leverages the star's "mystic quality" and "phenomenal screen presence" . Plot and Themes

While some find the film "slow moving" or "creaky" by modern standards, it is still considered a "fascinating" piece of cinema for its "histrionic battle" between Garbo and von Stroheim. Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes and NitrateVille.com suggest that while the plot may be "hokey," the star power and philosophical depth make it worth watching. Viewer Perspectives It would also have been nice to make

: The film leaves it largely ambiguous whether she is truly the missing wife or a masterful imposter, a "Pirandellian mystery" that keeps viewers guessing. Performance and Style