Single Standard

Single Standard
Customer Review: One of her best
This is my favorite Garbo film. I love everything about it-the story, the direction,the performances, the costumes. This film sums up what Garbo meant to women of her time. It's a must-see for anyone interested in her career.
Customer Review: Artistic Romance
The story, by popular writer of the time Adela Rogers St. Johns, is an interesting one. A woman who believes that men and women should be judged equally in their love affairs (Greta Garbo) finds another man who believes the same (Nils Asther). However, romance is more the focus of the story, not an unfair social standard placed on women. The two fall madly in love and sail together on a trip that ends by parting the two; Asther must go far away and cannot think of women where he is going. Hurt, Garbo waits for him, but cannot maintain single hood for long when another man proposes. She tells him she will always love another man; what if he comes back? But he persists and the two are married. They have a child together, played by Wally Albright who later became a Little Rascal. Asther comes back, disappointed by what he sees has happened in his absence. The characters are strong, likable ones. Although Garbo is normally a hardened, aloof sort, she is feminine and sensitive in this role. One might expect differently judging the story, but her portrayal of her character allows for a better, more emotional film. Asther's role is very similar to those that Clark Gable made his own at MGM in the talkies. He is a strong, no-nonsense type that exudes masculinity. Garbo's costumes are not very elegant. Much of her wardrobe makes her hips look very large. On the voyage with Asther, her hair is free and beautiful while blowing in the wind, but in her city scenes, it looks similar to a bad 80s perm. In the last scene, she wears a very large, unattractive sweater in a similar fashion. The film was photographed amazingly; the close-ups are often startlingly gorgeous and look like art one might hang on a wall. However, this print is horribly scratched; one can see the beauty beneath them, but these scratches are somewhat distracting. What is more, there are several deterioration spots. The title cards are sometimes worse; some are clear, but many are badly damaged by bad contrast, scratches, and deterioration.