Anna Christie

6/6/2022

Charles Bickford ("Mat"), is almost unrecognisable at the beefcake sailor who does his best "Popeye" impersonation opposite the slight "Olive Oyl" looking title character (Greta Garbo) in this simple love story with a bit of a sad backstory. She is the daughter of "Chris Christopherson" (George Marion) who travels to visit her long absent father from her farm in St. Paul. When they are reunited, he takes her to live on his coal barge where one evening they rescue three stricken sailors from a liner that hit something in the pea soup fog. The aforementioned Mr. Bickford takes a shine to her and she to him - but the father, a bit of an alcoholic, promptly concludes that "Mat" is a chip off the old block, and - King Canute style - tries to prevent their love from blossoming. It is only when s