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| Nana | |
|---|---|
_02.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Dorothy Arzner George Fitzmaurice |
| Produced by | Samuel Goldwyn |
| Starring | Anna Sten Lionel Atwill Richard Bennett Mae Clarke |
| Cinematography | Gregg Toland |
| Edited by | Frank Lawrence |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Nana is a 1934 Americanpre-Code film, produced bySamuel Goldwyn, released throughUnited Artists, starringAnna Sten. and directed byDorothy Arzner andGeorge Fitzmaurice.
This version ofÉmile Zola's 1880novel and heroine was to be the vehicle for Sten's triumph as Samuel Goldwyn's trained, groomed and heavily promoted answer toGreta Garbo. Despite a record-breaking opening week atRadio City Music Hall, Sten was received as beautiful but disappointing.[citation needed]
Goldwyn's tutoring of Sten is mentioned inCole Porter's 1934 song "Anything Goes" from the musical of the same name: "If Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction / Instruct Anna Sten in diction / Then Anna shows / Anything goes."
A Parisian streetwalker, Nana, is discovered by a theatrical impresario and becomes a stage success. At her height of popularity, she falls in love with a soldier, George Muffat, and draws both ire and fascination from his protective older brother, Colonel Muffat.
Nana, along with her friends, Satin, Mimi, and Zoe, buy a villa in a countryside. It turns out that they have become neighbors with the Muffat family. Nana and Georges embark on a romantic relationship, much to Colonel de Muffat's disapproval. Colonel de Muffat sends George on a commission to Algeria in order to separate him from Nana, but George promises Nana that he will come back for her.
Months pass, and Nana has still not received any letters from George. Satin, Mimi and Zoe are revealed to have been intercepting the pair's letters in order to draw Nana back to the stage in the hopes that she will regain her former wealth. One day, Nana is met by an apologetic Colonel de Muffat, who offers to recommend her to a new theater venue. Nana accepts, and becomes the Colonel's mistress. While Nana enjoys the renewed attention she is receiving from fans, she misses Georges and consequently becomes an alcoholic.
Georges arrives back in Paris, and finds Nana. Georges believes that Nana has received his letters but has ignored them. Nevertheless, Georges wants to be with her. They decide to run away together, but Colonel de Muffat arrives, leading Nana to commit suicide.
The film was abox-office disappointment.[1][2] It is the first of three movies thatAnna Sten made withSamuel Goldwyn before being released from her contract.[citation needed]
