InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Tymon Sutton The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Snow Leopard Greta Garbo's usual fine performance, along with a good supporting cast and an interesting (if somewhat familiar) story, make "The Mysterious Lady" a very good melodrama. It has a good mix of romance, intrigue, and suspense that gets the most out of the fairly simple premise, and along the way there are also some good touches by director Fred Niblo.In a part similar to her role in the better-known "Mata Hari", Garbo here plays a glamorous Russian spy who targets an Austrian officer, aiming at first to steal important military secrets, but soon genuinely falling in love with him. The conflict between personal feelings and perceived patriotic duty sets up the rest of the drama, and it builds up to an interesting climactic scene, with an exuberant party taking place in Warsaw while, in a private room, a tense confrontation plays out.Besides keeping a good pace and atmosphere, there are a few places where Niblo's direction also highlights key props in a fashion that would have pleased Hitchcock. And while Garbo as usual dominates the screen, the supporting cast features solid performances. Conrad Nagel plays the Austrian, with Gustav Von Seyffertitz as a Russian spy-master. Perhaps the best performance in the supporting cast is by Edward Connelly, in a smaller role as Nagel's uncle. It's a good combination that makes for a very good movie.

dglink While "The Mysterious Lady" is only a mildly entertaining romantic thriller, the film's seductively beautiful star, Greta Garbo, illuminates the screen whenever she appears and raises the film several cuts above what it might otherwise have been. The predictable plot is serviceable, if somewhat less than credible, and the handsome one-dimensional leading man and the sinister snarling villain, complete with flamboyant dark mustache, visually cue the audience to the identities of the hero and his nemesis.Only Garbo infuses her character with the depth and ambiguity to keep the audience guessing as to her sympathies and motives. Although her husky accented voice enhanced her aura, the actress was a master of projecting emotion without words. Her shifting facial expressions convey more than words, and even her body language speaks volumes about the character. Garbo moves with a fluidity and grace that enhances her innate seductive sexuality. She captivates the viewer even with the simple act of descending a staircase. When cinematographer William Daniels back lights her profile in closeup, she literally glows on the screen.While "The Mysterious Lady" has high MGM production values, fine cinematography, and lush sets, the film does not rank among the finest of silent cinema. With a lesser actress at its center, the film would likely have been forgotten. However, with Garbo, the film transcends its cardboard plot and provides a serviceable backdrop for the work of one of Hollywood's greatest icons.

Sarafu@stories.com This is my favorite Garbo film besides Camille. It and Camille are my favorite movie besides Camille with Rudolph Valentino and All Nazimova. I have heard this movie called a "soaper". I just love it. And I love how it has a happy ending. While I admit that's not a believeable one, I AM HAPPY it's not a believeable one. For one thing, that's Hollywood for you. Plenty of things in films made in Hollywood aren't believeable. Always has been that way. Always will be. I don't think people should take movies too seriously. Not that I won't think a movie is unbelieveable like Romeo and Juliet and not like it. And plus, it's good it got a happy ending because I for one wanted it to. It is coming on again on TCM on September 15th. Camille was supposed to be coming on the 5th of September, but I guess not. Dammit. And to think that Camille is one of my favorite movies. At least I'll get to see The Mysterious Lady. I was also going to say that I thought that Conrad Nagle was the best person to play the part of Greta Garbo's leading man, whatever his name was, can't remember it right now. I liked him better in the role than I would have John Gilbert, despite the fact that she and John Gilbert might have more of natural chemistry because they had an off screen romance. Still, Conrad Nagle just seems like the best person for the part. I don't know what it is about him that makes him the best one. It's this certain je ne sais quoi.

nickandrew Standard, but beautifully done silent about alluring Russian spy (Garbo) falling for Austrian soldier (Nagel). A marvelous mix of thrill, romance, and deceit helps the film's lesser moments. The MGM/UA Home Video version contains symphonic music score and crowd noises, which enhances the film's style.