The Painted Veil

Typically lush MGM vehicle for Garbo, drawn from Somerset Maugham's novel and set in Hollywood's China, in which she manages to sail through a clichéd plot - neglected by overworked medical missionary husband (Marshall), she succumbs to unworthy diplomat lover (Brent), but redeems herself during a cholera epidemic - and still light up the screen with her ever-sensuous, charismatic presence. The production values are characteristically sumptuous, William Daniels' photography is lustrous, and Boleslawski directs with suitable flair, although his interest in the acting theories and practices of Stanislavsky is hardly apparent from the performances.