THE SINGLE STANDARD

(director: John S. Robertson; screenwriters: Josephine Levett/from the novel by Adela Rogers St. John; cinematographer: Oliver Marsh; editor: Blanche Sewell; music: William Axt; cast: Greta Garbo (Arden Stuart), Nils Asther (Packy Cannon), Robert Castle(Anthony Kendall), Johnny Mack Brown (Tommy Hewlett), Lane Chandler(Ding Stuart), Dorothy Sebastian (Mercedes), Mahlon Hamilton (Mr. Glendenning), Kathlyn Williams (Mrs. Glendenning), Zeffie Tilbury (Mrs. Handley); Runtime: 70; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: John S. Robertson; Warner Bros.; 1929-silent)

“The Great Garbo, the Swedish star, in her penultimate silent.“

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

John S. Robertson (“Captain Hurricane”/”Little Orphan Annie”) directs with gusto the Great Garbo, the Swedish star, in her penultimate silent. It’s an adaptation of the 1928 Adela Rogers St. John novel. Josephine Levett writes the screenplay. The forward thinking wealthy free-spirit debutante from San Francisco, Arden Stuart (Greta Garbo), wholeheartedly believes the “single standard” in regard to sexual freedom should be applied to both sexes. Rather than marry, she plays the field with a number of men. That means moving on from the lovelorn Tommy (Johnny Mack Brown, future cowboy star) to a playboy prizefighter with artistic intentions, Packy (Nils Asther, Swedish actor). After sailing on her yacht with Packy on the South Seas, she breaks up with him and returns home to marry the respectable millionaire Tommy. The couple have a child. But we are left wondering if it’s in the cards for Arden to settle down to a normal family life, as Packy returns and wants her to leave with him.

REVIEWED ON 4/28/2018 GRADE: B-    https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/