Odalisken från Smolna
– The Film that never was –
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INTRODUCTION |
In early 1924, director and Garbo mentor Mauritz Stiller had big succcess of Gösta Berling Saga. Shortly after, he got an offering from the largest german film company at this time – Trianon A.G. In spring 1924 he signed a contract for two films and also had artistic freedom.
Stiller already had a the right story in mind. With his Gösta Berling Saga team, he wanted to make a film version of the novel, Odalisken från Smolna. In Winter 1924, production started in Istanbul (Turkey) with Greta Garbo in female leading role. Einar Hansson was signed to be her film-lover and Conrad Veidt as the film-villain.
But the german film Company went bankrupt and the project was stopped after only 3 weeks. The filmed material was confiscated by the Turkey customs office.
ALTERNATE TITLE |
The Odalisque from Smolensk (English Title)
Die Odaliske von Smolny (German Title)
Odaliske ( Alternative title)
PICTURES FROM THE LOCATION
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Trianon Film A.-G (Producer and Distributer)
Svensk Filmindustri (Co-Producer)
PRODUCTION COUNTRY / YEAR
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Germany, December 1924
CREDITS
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Directed by Mauritz Stiller.
Photography by J. Julius (Julius Jaenzon).
Screenplay Adaption by Mauritz Stiller and Ragnar Hyltén-Cavallius, based on the novel by Vladimir Semitjov.
Art Directon by Stefan Lhotha.
CAST
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Greta Garbo
Einar Hansson
Conrad Veidt
Mouschin Bey
SYNOPSIS
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An aristocratic Russian girl, Maria Ivanovna (Greta Garbo), flees from the political confusion of her homeland. She stows away on a ship, hoping to find her lover (Einar Hansson) in Constantinople. But the ship's crew sells her into slavery. She is sold as an odalisque (concubine) in the harem of a Turkish prince (Conrad Veidt). Maria had a terrifying, dramatic escape from her captors. She is involved in the dilemma of whether murdered her Turkish captor.
GARBO'S CO-STAR
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Conrad Veidt (1893 – 1943) was a German actor, well known for his roles in such films as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) and Casablanca (1942). The Trianon A.G. signed Veidt for the film.He was going tom play the part of the Turkish prince. The actor never appeared on location in Constantinople.
Conrad Veidt
Years later, Garbo had another chance to make to appear in a film with him - A Womans Face (USA 1941). It is said that Garbo was happy, finally to star in a film with him but after some time, MGM decided to rather produce Two-Faced Woman as Garbo's follow up to Ninotchka.
RELEASE
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Second quarter of 1925
PRODUCTION
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Production dates: October–November 1931
Production Location: USA
TRIVIA
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 Was going to be filmed in Constantinople (Istanbul) / Turkey.
Stiller wanted to start filming in June/July 1924 and than, after it was post-phoneed, in December 1924.
Greta did some location film tests.
The Location tests with Greta are lost.
Actor Conrad Veidt never appeared on location.
Odalisken från Smolna was slated to start filming in June or July. This plan was post-phoned in early sommer of 1924 and Stiller went back to Germany. In Berlin he re-newed/signed the contract.
In early sommer of 1924, a new arrangement between Trianon and Svensk Filmindustri was made. It allowed Gösta Berlings saga to be subtituted as the first film under Mauritz Stiller's contract.
RARE COSTUME PICTURE |
BACKGROUND STORY
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On March 1924, Gösta Berling Saga premiered in Stockholm. After that, the director got an offering from a German producer named David Schratter. He asked Stiller if he would be interested in making some films for Trianon Film A.-G. This was Germany's largest production company at this time. They also wanted to buy the german distribution rights for Gösta Berling Saga. He traveled to Berlin to meet with Schratter. Some time later, Stiller sold Trianon the Gösta Berling Saga exhibition rights for Germany.
The company paid the huge sum of 100,000 marks to distribute the film. Stiller signed with Trianon and promised to deliver two films to Trianon. Each film against a guarantee of 75,000 Kronor. There was an option for two additional films at 100,000 kronor each. Stiller kept all Scandinavian rights.
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| The Odalisken |
He was already considering his next subject: a story of Russian refugees trapped in Turkey. Trianon thought that Stiller would do a sentimental German love story. But the director had a brighter idea. He had recently read a melodramatic Stockholm newspaper serial. The serial was written by Russian refugee Vladimir Semitjov. He bought the screen rights, and reworked it into a script - The Odalisque from Smolna.
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| The Screenplay |
It was about a girl who get caught up in the Russian civil war. She flees Sevastopol and crosses the Black Sea to Constantinople in search of her fiancé. She is drugged and sold into a Turkish harem. Her escape from which is but one of many breathless adventures. Stiller had convinced Trianon that by producing the film in Turkey. The belived that the fabulous exotic backgrounds, crowds and perpetual sunshine could be obtained for free. Trianon were impressed and begged him to do it.
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| Start Date |
The director send Greta a letter and told her not to make any plans for the summer of 1924. He wanted to start shooting in summer of 1924. But this plan was later post-phoned and Stiller had to re-new/sign the contract in Berlin. In August, Greta and Stiller went to Germany for the premiere of Gösta Berlings Saga in Berlin. The film was a big success and Stiller sorted out new deals with Trianon.
On 10 September 1924, Trianon executive David Schratter gave Stiller his okay. He told him not to worry about anything and that the company intended to let him make his film the way he want. The s tart date for filming was early december 1924.
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| Greta and Stiller in Constantinople |
In mid-December 1924, Stiller, Garbo, actor Einar Hanson and writer Hylén-Cavallius left Stockholm. They had a stopping in Berlin to pick up their German camera crew. Then they finally travelled to Constantinople / Turkey, by way of Bulgaria.
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| No money |
After only two weeks, Stiller and his team had no money anymore to continue working on the film. Stiller send telegrams to Trianon but they ignored them. He than used his own money, he got from Svensk Film industry. Trianon A.G. was on the verge of bankruptcy. Around christmas time, Stiller went back to Berlin. He found out that he could not go forward with his film and even wasn't free to make new plans. Stiller even couldn't pay back the money he owed to Svensk Film industry. A rumor reached Stockholm that an American Company might finance the Constantinople film.
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| G. W. Pabst |
The News, that Trianon had collapsed spread around Europe. Director Pabst heard about their situation and went to the Trianon offices. He told them that he wants to use Garbo. Pabst was in pre-production of Die Freudlose Gasse (A Joyless Street). He tried to buy Greta's contract b ut the Trianon were uninterested. They told him that nobody can make a picture with her cos they still want to make this big picture. The Trianon office said that those rumors of bankruptcy were not true. Another rumor was that an American production company might finance the film too. Nothing is known about this. Maybe MGM?
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| Stiller sold Greta's contract |
On January 1925, Stiller was advised by lawyers in Berlin. They told him that Trianon might attempt to collect on any film he did not direct for them in Germany. Stiller now had an unsettled and uncertain contract and a number of unpaid bills. He did the next best thing and disregarded Trianon's claim in not selling Garbo's contract to Pabst. Stiller sold the services of Garbo to G. W. Pabst.
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| Greta waited in Constantinople |
Greta and the whole were still in Constantinople. She spend her first Christmas away from home. She was invited to the Swedish consulate several times and went to parties there twice. On New Year's Eve, she went to a party in an Oriental gown. It was of red and gold silk, Stiller had purchased it for her. Garbo was now waiting for Stiller and hoped that they could start filming soon.
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No Odalisken film |
On January 20, 1925, Greta received a telegram from Stiller. He told her the news that it is impossible to go on with the film. Stiller wanted her to pack his things and that she takes care about her visa. He let her know that he will send money to the Swedish consulate. Stiller send her $500,so she and Einar Hansson could travel back. Greta was shocked when she heard that they will not make the film anymore. Greta said that it was not her fault. She belived that, although she was restless, she should not worry. She knew that there were other companies and that she was young.
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| Hollywood |
After Stiller and Garbo came to Hollywood in summer of 1925, he translated Odalisken från Smolna into english. He wanted to direct this film in America as Garbo's debut but MGM didn't like it. The proposal had to be dropped and Greta was to do her first MGM film, in The Torrent. Unfortunatly, Odalisken från Smolna was never made.
THE ORIGINAL NOVEL
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Based on the novel Odalisken från Smolna ( The Odalisque from Smolensk ), by Vladimir Semitjov.
MORE INFO |
A chronicle about Garbo's and Stillers time in Istanbul was written in 2002 as a short novel - In Pursuit of an Vanishing Star by Gustaf Sobin and there is another book Garbo Filmen Vi Aldrig Fick Se – by Eugen Semitjov were you can find many more info.
 
In Pursuit of an Vanishing Star and Garbo Filmen Vi Aldrig Fick Se
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SOURCES |
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Karen Swenson – A life Apart
Barry Paris – Garbo
IMDB – International Movie Database
plus many other books, magazines and internet sites. |
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