Question 1

What real-life figure inspired the semi-fictionalized story of Mata Hari?

Accepted Answer

The film is a semi-fictionalized account of Mata Hari, an exotic dancer accused of spying for Germany during World War I.

Question 2

Which co-stars were rumored to have an affair during production, and what was the truth?

Accepted Answer

Rumors circulated that Greta Garbo and Ramon Novarro were having an affair, but this was untrue; they only developed a strong friendly rapport.

Question 3

How did the 1936 re-release differ from the original pre-code version?

Accepted Answer

The 1936 re-release was censored to conform to the Hays Code, cutting from 92 to 89 minutes, including shortening the erotic dance to Shiva and a bed scene.

Question 4

What does 'Mata Hari' mean in Indonesian, and what sparked interest in the film?

Accepted Answer

'Mata Hari' translates to 'eye of the day' in Indonesian and is the most common word for 'sun.' Major Thomas Coulson's 1930 book piqued interest, but MGM said no single book was the basis.

Question 5

Why did Ramon Novarro wear internal lifts in his boots?

Accepted Answer

Ramon Novarro wore internal lifts in his boots to increase the height difference between himself and Greta Garbo on screen.

Mata Hari

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