A Woman of Affairs (1928)

The name of Greta Garbo immediately conjures images of a sultry, sensual foreign actress with an aura of mystique, and she lives up to this image perfectly in "A Woman of Affairs" which followed the success of "Flesh and the Devil" a year earlier. In both films Garbo's co-star is the dashing John Gilbert, whose popularity and sex appeal even rivaled that of Rudolph Valentino in the early to mid 1920s, and with whom Garbo had a rocky off-screen romance. Add the expertise and skill of director Clarence Brown who directed Garbo and Gilbert in "Flesh and the Devil", and the result is an even more emotion-charged love story to tug and tear at your heartstrings. The final ingredient to make this a truly powerful and unforgettable drama is Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in one of his most impressive and finest early performances as Garbo's alcoholic brother who dies an untimely death halfway through this tragic tale. Lewis Stone contributes his usual solid presence as the faithful friend and doctor, but the quality and high standard of this film do not rest on the fame of the cast and crew alone. Based on a controversial novel, this story has depth and some intrigue as the true motives of the woman with a questionable reputation are gradually revealed. Although Garbo lives up to her screen persona of the alluring temptress and seductive woman who ruins the lives of men, she also succeeds in making the character genuine, believable and even likeable. When her first and only true love is sent away by his father who disapproves of her, she finds her life taking a different course over which she appears to have no control, and which results in even more tragedy. It is a drama about people and relationships, and above all, a love story rarely seen in modern times, nor portrayed in this way that can only be achieved through the medium of the silent film. Made near the end of the silent era, this film features some of the best, most sophisticated and refined cinematic qualities of the late 1920s, with a few unusual camera angles to add drama and to enhance the powerful visual medium of the silent film. An orchestral musical accompaniment underscores the drama and tension very well, and the picture quality of this VHS is very good throughout. This is a true gem of early cinema not to be missed by both silent and classic film enthusiasts alike!

One of my all time favorite Gilbert and Garbo silents. Based on the Jazz age book the 'Green Hat' by Micheal Arlen this film actually stands the test of time unlike the book. Abd similar to other Jazz age classics like The Great Gatsby which also have a crossover timelessness to them. However what makes this great is the cast. Garbo, as a devil may care (Diana Merrick) of the unlucky house of Merrick, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, her alcoholic, gay brother (Jeffery )who's admired with( David) who is also in love with Diana but best friends with Jeffery. Things go south when he takes his life and Diana covers for it. Giving up the man she truly loves (Neville) Gilbert for honor. It also stars Lewis Stone who is so great a the champion for Diana, and the Merrick Family. The movie is a much be watch than the book is a read because it's not heavy with 20's slang. However the book does make mention of drugs, syphilis, & sleeping around homosexuality, all the things that was taken out of the '28 film.

Great movie on dvd.

Garbo did a splendid talkie version of Camillle in the 30s. This has a comparable narrative. The hero's father disapproves of Garbo's character and intervenes to prevent the romance. This film was based on a scandalous novel and the most controversial elements of the novel - homosexuality, drug abuse and syphilis had to be omitted from the film. Garbo was first-rate as was Dorothy Sebastian as the hero's wife. The male characters, tended to be one-dimensional. Gilbert was apparently, the real love of Garbo's life, but the on-screen chemistry between the two did not reflect that. I would probably have rated this as just 2* except for one significant element. Alcoholism is shown very seriously here: first by Douglas Fairbanks Jr as Garbo's brother and then (to a lesser extent) by Gilbert. This is the most penetrating cinematic exposition of alcoholism of which I am aware, before Wilder's superb The Lost Weekend. Given the talent and the plot, this film could have been so much better.

THERE IS NO MUSICAL ACCOMODATION ..... GARBO IS FABULOUS!!!

Set in England, Diana Merrick (Greta Garbo) has been in love with Neville (John Gilbert) since childhood. Now an adult, she plans on marrying him. Neville's father, however, disapproves of the wild Merrick girl and sends his son abroad. Diana does the "honorable" thing and agrees to stay away ("honor" is a reoccurring theme in this film). Another suitor since childhood is David who is regarded as a highly respectable young man. Diana's heavy drinking brother Jeffry (played expertly by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) worships David as the gallant man he wishes he could be. Diana eventually marries David only to find out he was not the saint everyone believed. She covers up the real reason behind his suicide at the expense of her own reputation in order to spare her brother's faith in David's "decency" (another reoccurring theme). She makes no effort to defend herself when Jeffry loudly (in text, anyway) declares that Diana's reckless past is the reason for David's demise. Her own reputation tarnished, the widow Diana goes abroad and lives the loose life everyone expects of her. When she returns to England, she finds that true love Neville is engaged and her brother is in a worse drunken state than before. Will she lose them both along with her sanity? Get this film and find out! Beautifully acted--Garbo definitely shows off her toughness in this one. This version also includes a wonderful musical score. It is an hour and 37 minutes. I also recommend Flesh and the Devil-my favorite Garbo/Gilbert film.

John Gilbert e Greta Garbo sono i protagonisti di questa immensa pellicola che vale assolutamente la pena avere. Dopo averla vista credo che valga tranquillamente ogni euro speso contando anche sul fatto che si tratta di un film raro che è diventato complicato da trovare. Purtroppo non è disponibile la lingua italiana ma non è un problema e, secondo me, il film si comprende perfettamente lo stesso. Purtroppo molti film interpretati da Greta Garbo non sono mai arrivati in Italia sino ad oggi e di conseguenza alcuni non hanno il doppiaggio o la didascalia disponibile. In ogni caso, se siete appassionati di cinema, è un film che deve assolutamente far parte della propria collezione.

Dvd arrived within a few days of placing the order. Haven't had time to watch it yet but looks brand new with no scratch's visible on the disc.