Nana (1934 film)

Nana is a 1934 American pre-Code film, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, released through United Artists, starring Anna Sten. and directed by Dorothy Arzner and George Fitzmaurice.

This version of Émile Zola's 1880 novel and heroine was to be the vehicle for Sten's triumph as Samuel Goldwyn's trained, groomed and heavily promoted answer to Greta Garbo. Despite a record-breaking opening week at Radio City Music Hall, Sten was received as beautiful but disappointing.

Goldwyn's tutoring of Sten is mentioned in Cole 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."

Plot
A Parisian streetwalker is discovered by a theatrical impresario and becomes a stage success. At her height of popularity, she falls in love with a soldier, and draws both ire and fascination from his protective older brother.

Cast

 * Anna Sten as Nana
 * Lionel Atwill as Colonel André Muffat
 * Richard Bennett as Gaston Greiner
 * Mae Clarke as Satin
 * Phillips Holmes as Lieutenant George Muffat
 * Reginald Owen as Bordenave
 * Helen Freeman as Sabine Muffat
 * Lawrence Grant as Grand Duke Alexis
 * Jessie Ralph as Zoe
 * Ferdinand Gottschalk as Finot
 * Paul Hurst as Employer (uncredited)
 * Tom Ricketts as Party Guest (uncredited)

Reception
The film was a box-office disappointment. It is the first of three movies that Anna Sten made with Samuel Goldwyn before being released from her contract.