A Woman of Affairs

Plot synopsis:
Diana Merrick (Greta Garbo), Neville (John Gilbert) and David (Johnny Mack Brown) were playmates as children, members of the rich British aristocracy. Diana and Neville are in love, but his father (Hobart Bosworth) opposes the match, disapproving the Merrick family's lifestyle. Neville is sent to Egypt for business purposes and to become wealthy.
Diana, after waiting in vain for two years for Neville's return, finally marries David, who is also in love with her and good friends with her brother Jeffry (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). During their honeymoon to Paris and after the arrival of police inspectors, David commits suicide without an explanation. Diana does not explain the reasons behind her husband's action. Jeffry, who was deeply connected to David, blames his sister for his friend's death; he falls deeper into alcohol as his sister starts a reckless life, seducing man after man.
Years later, Neville returns to England to marry Constance (Dorothy Sebastian). Jeffry is now gravely ill, and Diana brings Dr. Trevelyan, a family friend, to his bedside and then leaves since Jeffry still refuses to see her. As she starts to drive away, she sees Neville who has followed her and Dr. Trevelyan in a cab. Diana and Neville go to his apartment, realize they are still in love, and spend that one night together. During the night Jeffry dies. Dr. Trevelyan goes to Neville's apartment in the morning to give him the news and discovers that Diana has spent the night there. Three days later, Neville marries Constance.
About nine months go by: Diana falls ill (in the script she is supposed to have suffered a miscarriage, but because of censorship, this couldn't be mentioned) and is visited by Neville. Diana professes her love for him before realizing Constance is in the room.
The reason for David's suicide is revealed: he was a thief, pursued by the police. Diana, realizing that her and Neville's love will ruin Neville, tells him that his wife is pregnant and sends him away. Diana drives her car into a tree, in front of which she and Neville had fallen in love and sworn eternal fidelity.

Tags: romantic

Review:
A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS (MGM, 1928), directed by Clarence Brown, from the then controversial novel, "The Green Hat" by Michael Arlen, reunites then popular love team of John Gilbert and Greta Garbo in their third collaboration on screen.
Initially teamed under Clarence Brown's direction in the highly popular FLESH AND THE DEVIL (1926), followed by LOVE (1927), taken from the Leo Tolstoy's classic novel, "Anna Karenina," Gilbert and Garbo once more star in a silent melodrama about love and tragedy.
Unlike their earlier screen efforts, their characters in this story are already acquainted since childhood, leaving no chance of meeting and falling in love, but the difference here is that their relationship is interfered by a third party who happens not to be another lover or spouse.
And unlike their earlier two films, Garbo is more the central focus here than Gilbert.The story begins quite amusingly, finding the wild and merry Diana Merrick (Greta Garbo) driving recklessly down the road in the Mack Sennett Keystone comedy fashion, nearly missing the ditch diggers as she drives over them.
Moments later, the characters in the story, the Holderness and the Merricks, are introduced with each passing scene.
Diane is a carefree woman who has loved Neville Holderness (John Gilbert) since childhood.
Jeffry's closest friend, David Furness (Johnny Mack Brown), tries to stop him from his wild and wicked ways, but to no avail.
Neville's father, Sir Morton (Hobart Bosworth), disapproves of the Merrick family's way of life.
When he learns that his son wants to marry Diana, he manages to send Neville away to Egypt for a few years, in hope that the two will forget one another through the passage of time.
Two years later, Diana marries David.
Over the next few years, Diana makes the gossip columns as being a widow of many love affairs throughout the world.
As for Neville, he becomes engaged to marry a nice young girl named Constance (Dorothy Sebastian), whom, as Diana describes through the title cards, as a girl "whose eyes are so true and clean." But Old Man Holderness, knowing how his son and Diana still feel about one other, continues to keep the scandalous Diana away his son, causing Neville to become like Jeffry, an unbearable alcoholic.While not as famous by today's standards as FLESH AND THE DEVIL, A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS somewhat predates those "Peyton Place"-type soap-operas or Lana Turner melodramas quite popular during the 1950s and 60s.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s portrayal as an unhappy youth who turns to drink, is quite believable, especially when his glassy eyes, uncombed hair almost covering a portion of his eye, with whiskey glass in his hand that at times has him resemble a young John Barrymore.
Fairbanks, however, does well with his early screen performance.Clarence Brown's direction with the Gilbert-Garbo loves scenes do have some bonuses, but are not as "hot" as in FLESH AND THE DEVIL.
One scene that stands out is finding Diana, wearing a special ring on her finger, making love to Neville on the couch, with Diana telling him, "I would only take it off for the man I love." The camera then pans down to her hand just as the ring slowly slips off her finger.
As for the story itself, it takes place during a span of ten years, yet the characters in the plot don't look any different in the conclusion as they appear in the opening, making the storyline look more as if it takes place in a span of ten months than ten years.
And although Garbo has that special beauty, especially when properly photographed, she doesn't look particularly attractive in some of those costumes designed for her, mainly when wearing those flapper-designed hats.
Essentially a silent movie that was initially distributed in theaters with recorded scoring, one wishes such a score for this film have been used for its current video distribution, which comes with a Thames stereo orchestral soundtrack.
Both versions are available for viewing on cable TV's Turner Classic Movies.One final note: A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS was one of the 13 feature films presented on the public television series, MOVIES, GREAT MOVIES (Original air date: October 26, 1973), a 50th anniversary tribute to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer of the silent era, as hosted by Richard Schickel, on WNET, Channel 13, in New York City.
Yes, it is true that not many people have seen A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS (1928), comparing its popularity to her other films, like FLESH AND THE DEVIL, NINOTCHKA or GRAND HOTEL.
Yet, it is one of the most unforgettable films where Garbo's silent performance has a soul throughout.
But, at the same time, the movie can also boast marvelous cinematography, great performances from all cast, an interesting content, and the original soundtrack which opens it to a new era of the 1920s cinema, something in between silent and sound films with dialogs.
I was absolutely astonished when I saw the moment where Diana (Greta Garbo) walks down the hill in the garden.
The light is directed towards Diana's figure walking quickly but desperately after a bitter conversation with Morton Holderness (Howard Bosworth), an honorable father of her beloved Nevs (John Gilbert).
Soon before he comes to visit her, there is a brilliant shot of Diana lying in bed, in the state of delirium, and looking at flowers.
The CONTENT of the movie is based on controversial novel by Michael Arlen, THE GREEN HAT.
Therefore, the content was so much changed that the film becomes quite a different story.
Morton's character is expressed in another moment when he says to his son trying to convince him to give up the relationship "Ten generations are watching you!" Secondly, the content perfectly shows what a passionate love really means.
Although Nevs is happy with his wife Constance (Dorothy Sebastian), he cannot stop thinking about Diana whom he has known since the light hearted days of childhood.
It is the third film in which Garbo appears with her real-life love interest John Gilbert and they both give marvelous jobs here.
Lewis Stone, a mainstay of most Garbo films (from this one to many others, including GRAND HOTEL and MATA HARI), does a great job as Dr Hugh Trevelyan, who approved of the relationship.
So with these great performers, you see all of them in the final 10 minute-long scene at Holderness' house, where Diana comes to talk things over with Morton.
I don't know how you will react to this, but I consider the scene a masterpiece of silent performances.All things considered, A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS is a highly recommended film which stands out in our modern era of cinema, as an example of cinematography, performances and well selected content.
Nevertheless once the historical perspective is in place this is still a simple timeless classic, one I've now seen a dozen times over the years.Very honourable woman falls in love with equally honourable man, much to his even more honourable father's disfavour.
Garbo and Gilbert were perfect for the roles (making this a lovely bookend for Flesh And The Devil) and both never looked more gleaming beautiful, although Garbo had a few odd costumes along the way.
Everyone undulates their way to a fitting climax and conclusion (although didn't Neville come back into the room to Constance rather fast after Diana told him ---- ?)All in all one of my favourite silent melodramas, strangely neglected nowadays - or is there no honour left?.
Garbo is one of the two of the last "Mad Merricks", not much more is said about the family name except that Diana is independently wealthy and somewhat reckless.
In the opening scene she is driving her car wildly through the countryside with her first and only true love, Neville Holderness (John Gilbert), as a passenger.
No valid reason is given other than perhaps he does not want the pitter patter of little mad Merricks to end up being his heirs.Neville has no money in his own name, so his dad uses this fact to get Neville to agree to take a job in Egypt, before he marries Diana, so that he can earn some money and start a career.
Complications, heartache, and tragedy ensue.The reason I say this is almost a feminist film is because the only two women in the film - Diana and Constance (Dorothy Sebastian) are the only virtuous people in the entire cast.
Hugh (Lewis Stone), long time family friend of the Merricks, comes close, but near the end breaks a trust in doing what he thinks is a good deed.
Jeffry, Diana's brother, is an alcoholic, Neville is ultimately a coward, his dad is a snob, and David Furness, who has always loved Diana and been Jeffry's hero since childhood, has his problems too.
She can see Neville and Diana are still in love, and does not blame either of them for something they cannot help.
I think it is Garbo's best silent film.
She gives a strong performance in a film with a good plot and a good cast surrounding her, and as always, her chemistry with Gilbert is wonderful.
A soap opera on the grand scale with the great screen team of John Gilbert and Greta Garbo.
The opening subtitles tell us that Garbo/Diana is a gallant lady.
Garbo is perfection in her shifting moods - first as a young woman in love, playful and happy with her true love, Gilbert, then when she makes that fateful mistake which she thinks brings honor to herself, and so on right up to her death 10 years later after her self-image of an honorable woman has been taken from her.Gilbert's role is subsidiary, not sympathetic, and of all things, boring.
The actor who does exhibit fire is the young Douglas Fairbanks Jr, whose self-loathing is redirected to a passionate hatred of his sister.I liked Garbo's action in the reconciliation scene where she walks over to Gilbert's father with an unlit cigarette and when he strikes a match she takes out her lighter and lights it herself, thereby emphasizing that she will not bow again to his idea of honor.
I also liked the director's choice of showing the widow Diana's 7-year exile in Europe through a series of newspaper photos and their captions.
And THE main character, Garbo, is so superb that the script problems make no difference to one's enjoyment of this flawed film..
That's because in the original novel, the Garbo character's husband commits suicide on his wedding night because he has syphilis; due to censorship, this was changed to his being an embezzler.
Yet the brilliant cast and director manage to put the original meaning across anyway.But although sex and scandal are the story's raison d'etre, what makes the movie memorable is that it captures something essential about the time it was made (the end of the Roaring 20s): a restless, heedless cynicism and emptiness, a bitter gaiety, a mixture of desire and melancholy.
And in that respect, being so true to its own time, it achieves timelessness.There's a great moment when Garbo strides up to her disapproving older nemesis in a belted polo coat and cloche hat with a cigarette dangling from her lips.
Another when she's on her honeymoon with a man she doesn't love, and she lies in bed switching the light on and off -- you realize that she's bored, impatient, horny, and regretful all at once.The story seems most dated when the characters are discussing whether or not Garbo is "good" or "decent." The men in the movie all stand around, trying to understand her and failing.
When MGM (of all studios) decided to make a movie of the novel - the name of the book or any allusion to it was not to be mentioned, hence the name "A Woman of Affairs".
Diana Merrick (Greta Garbo) and her dissipated brother Jeffry (Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.) are determined to live their lives in the pursuit of pleasure, earning them a bad reputation.
Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. gives the performance of his young career as the alcoholic Jeffry (in the book he and Diana were twins).
Jeffry has an unhealthy hero-worship of David and Fairbanks seems to really get inside his character.Neville (John Gilbert) is offered a post in Egypt and is eager to take it as it means he and Diana can be married when he returns.
They marry but Diana does not return his love.
The title says "He died for - decency" and Diana puts up with a lot of allegations and rumour.Years pass and Diana is back in London to visit her critically ill brother, who has never recovered from David's death and is drinking himself into an early grave.
Neville is about to marry giddy Constance (pretty Dorothy Sebastian), who proves during the film that she has just as much character and honour as the rest of them.
Dr. Hugh Trevelyan (Lewis Stone) has always been Diana's protector and supporter and it is he who informs her of her brother's death (she has spent the night at Nevilles).Diana suffers a nervous breakdown and I think it is this hospital scene in which Greta Garbo lifts this film to it's highest sphere.
Everyone in the scene (Gilbert, Sebastian, Stone) seems transfixed as Garbo goes through this astonishing performance.
Sir Morton Holderness (Hobart Bosworth), Neville's father has never held a very high opinion of Diana.
He learns the real reason for David's suicide - he was an embezzler and Diana gave up her reputation for his honour - not to mention paying off his debts secretly.
For the last time Diana proves she is a "gallant lady" by driving her car into the tree that had always symbolized her and Neville's love and leaving Neville and Constance free to begin their lives together.Greta Garbo is mesmerizing - you can't watch anyone else while she is on the screen.
John Gilbert shows none of the personality and passion that characterizes his acting - he definitely takes a backseat to Garbo in this movie.
I love silent films but I will be the first to admit that some plots from the early days of film tend to look a bit old fashioned and silly today.
Despite the presence of the often overrated Greta Garbo, this film lacks believability.
Don't believe any reviews that give this film astronomically high ratings simply because they love Garbo--the script is just too flawed to merit scores of 9 or 10.Greta and John Gilbert are in love.
John is a bit of a weenie and reluctantly agrees to listen to his dad and take a job in Egypt instead of marrying Garbo.
This was dumb because there was no legitimate reason for this self-sacrifice--especially when Greta's brother (played by a young Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) refuses to ever talk with her or see her again and pretty much everyone else treats her like a leper.
Later, however, Garbo's one true friend tells Gilbert and his nasty father the truth and everyone agrees that she's a living saint and everyone (including the wife) give Gilbert permission to divorce and marry Garbo!!!
Well, the film is lovely to look at due to nice cinematography.
An above average Greta Garbo silent with John Gilbert and Lewis Stone.
Directed by Clarence Brown, this Michael Arlen story earned Bess Meredyth an Academy Award nomination for Best Writing, Achievement.
The film is an above average Greta Garbo silent with John Gilbert, Lewis Stone, Johnny Mack Brown, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., among others.The plot follows Diana (Garbo in the title role), the carefree daughter of the Merrick family and sister to Jeffry (Fairbanks Jr.), who grew up the childhood sweetheart of Neville Holderness (Gilbert).
Anita Louise appears, uncredited, as the child Diana.Unfortunately for the young lovers, Neville's father, Sir Morton Holderness (Hobart Bosworth), disapproves of the "reckless" Merricks, so he sends his son abroad to prevent his further involvement with Diana.
Later, Diana ends up marrying David Furness (Brown), who is not only Jeffry's best friend, but the man her brother idolizes most in the World.
Lewis Stone plays Dr. Trevelyan, a friend of the Merricks.Some years later, under a mountain of debt unknown to everyone but his wife Diana, the outwardly proper David kills himself to escape his creditors by jumping out a window.
Besides Diana, only Dr. Trevelyan knows the truth.Of course, a reunion with Neville, now married to the beautiful Constance (Dorothy Sebastian) is inevitable.
Constance, ironically, is curious about Diana's notoriety, and causes another reunion between the former lovers later herself.After the earlier loss of his friend and idol David, Jeffry descended into the depths of depression with drugs and/or alcohol, refusing to see the sister he blames as he takes his last breaths and dies in the presence of Dr. Trevelyan.But the title of this film does not mean what you think or, perhaps more precisely, is actually a double entendre.
As it turns out, Diana had actually been settling her husband's affairs (e.g. his debts) over all these years such that, in the end, even Sir Holderness comes to respect her.Back within her presence (caused by Constance's aforementioned fascination), Neville is willing to chuck everything (e.g. his marriage) to be with her.
Originally issued with a music score (including an original song by William Axt and David Mendoza called "Love's First Kiss") and sound effects, the film is now available only in a silent version with a new orchestral score composed by Carl Davis.
This is a sumptuous, yet beautifully made film, exquisitely photographed, most inventively directed, and superbly acted by an outstanding cast, not the least member of which, the young Douglas Fairbanks, almost steals the production from the divine Garbo herself.
Garbo literally lights up the screen, even when her face is partly hidden by the green hat of Arlen's title.
As a result, the characters of the film are far more believable than their counterparts in the novel.