A Woman of Affairs (1928)
Directed by: Clarence Brown
Starring: Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Length: 91 min.
Genre: Romance / Drama
Based on: "The Green Hat" novel written by Michael Arlen
The story of the movie is about childhood sweethearts who were kept from each other due to various circumstances. Diana (Greta Garbo) loved Neville (John Gilbert), and he loved her, but Neville's father didn't approve of the marriage and sent Neville to live in Egypt. Diana would eventually marry a man named David (his best friend, a drunk named Jeffry was played by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). When the cops come for David, he jumps to his death and Diana keeps secret why the cops were after him. Neville also marries, but he is constantly distracted by his love for Diana.
The book that the movie was based on, The Green Hat was a best seller and made Michael Arlen a star, but the censors refused to allow just about everything from the book. A lot of the plot had to be reworked, the sex and sexual topics like VD were removed, and the names of the characters and the title of the movie had to be changed. The censors really did a number on this movie and what came out of it was a pretty tame romance.
It had all of the usual elements of a Garbo/Gilbert romance. A lot of sexual tension between lovers who weren't allowed to love each other. Garbo being one of the top draws means the production of the movie was top notch and the performances were great. Expecially by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. who played a drunk. Having said that, I knew what was coming throughout the film. The film is so full of sexual tension that there is no tension. The audience knows what's going to happen. It's the same story in every movie with these two in it.
Entertainment Rating: 5/10
Historical Rating: 6/10