I know that this movie was filmed in both English and German.
I also know that for whatever reason, Garbo prefered the German one.
What I can't seem to find the answer to is:
Did she actually speak German or was it dubbed?
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It was not dubbed, it's Garbos voice that we hear with a charming Swedish accent (although she managed quite well imo, that made it harder for me to understand the dialogue sometimes). Garbo actually was able to speak German and also used the language sometimes in her private life. In one of the countless books on her it was stated that she sometimes spoke German to her friend Salka Viertel (who also appeared as Marthy in the German version of "Anna Christie" under her maiden name Salka Steuermann). There are also letters to Salka in which she sometimes used German words or phrases.
I think one possible reason she preferred the German version is that maybe she thought the director did a better job on that one - that's at least what a lot of film critics seem to think. I've yet to watch the English version, so currently I have no opinion on this.
Yes, this was Garbo's live voice all right, without any dubbing. She could not speak English when she arrived in America, but did know German - most Swedes do. It would be interesting to know what a native German thinks of Garbo's German. To me as an Englishwoman, it sounds pretty good.
shareIt's obvious that at the time Garbo was more comfortable with German than with English. Her German was much more fluid, but she likely had not yet acquired the knack of thinking and acting in English.
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