The Temptress on AllMovie

Fred Niblo directed this stylish romantic tragedy (began by Swedish director Mauritz Stiller, who was replaced during the shooting), starring the alluring Greta Garbo. The film begins at an amateur circus being held by rich banker Fontenoy (Marc MacDermott). At the festivities, Elena (Garbo), Fontenoy's mistress and the wife of the Marquis Torre De Bianca (Armand Kaliz), meets the Marquis's boyhood friend, Robledo (Antonio Moreno), recently arrived in Paris from Argentina. Fontenoy, in a jealous rage, lambasts Elena for flirting with Robledo. Elena, discovering that Fontenoy is broke, leaves him. Crest-fallen, Fontenoy kills himself. The Marquis, humiliated, returns to Argentina with his pal Robledo, taking Elena with him. Robledo, resents Elena's presence, but puts up with her for the sake of his friend. In spite of that, he fights Manos Duras (Roy D'Arcy), an outlaw who tries to kidnap Elena. Enraged, Duros blows up a dam being supervised by the Marquis, and the floodwaters consume a local village. In a rage, Robledo vows to kill Elena, thinking her the cause of all the tragedies. However, a consuming passion for Elena overcomes him.