Unsichtbare Fesseln

Greta Garbo envies the freedom acceptable for men, but not permissible for women - the sexual "Double Standard". She asked her chauffeur to take her for a ride. When they are caught returning from a rendezvous, the chauffeur is fired; then, he commits suicide. Somewhat disenchanted, Garbo takes off with exciting Nils Asther for a long romantic trip aboard his ship - the "All Alone". Garbo wants to marry, but Asther must travel to China.

Back home, Garbo is romanced by, and does marry, millionaire Johnny Mack Brown. Later, Asther returns… Garbo loves Asther, but is married (with child) to Mack Brown. What will she do?

"The Single Standard" is beautifully photographed and silently performed. The subject matter must have been considered daring at the time. Today, it's fairly standard stuff. Still - Garbo, the photography, and briefly twisted ending make it look like magic.

******* The Single Standard (1929) John S. Robertson ~ Greta Garbo, Nils Asther, Johnny Mack Brown

Have had appreciated silent films for a long time now, not all are great or hold up particularly well but there are a good number that have aged well and are great (the best classics, like the best of FW Murnau, DW Griffith, early Fritz Lang and early King Vidor). Namely saw 'The Single Standard' for Sweden's greatest actress Greta Garbo, who deserves her reputation as a cinema icon and to be so well loved by many.

Is 'The Single Standard', notable for being her last film with Nils Asther, one of her finest? No, it's not 'Queen Christina', 'Ninotchka' or 'Camille', am not trying to be unfair here as any film deserves to stand on its own without much comparison and 'The Single Standard' is no exception (just wanted to mention a few of my favourites of hers). It still represents her well though, and she is the main reason as to why the film is worth watching. Something of a curiosity and to be seen if you are a die-hard fan of Garbo and want to see every film of hers, but a worthy curio.

'The Single Standard' has not held up particularly well in some areas. But there are other areas where it has aged pretty gracefully. Nothing really is done terribly, if anything the not so good things are more variable.

What varies is the quality of the photography and the performances. Some of the photography is beautifully composed. Some of it is also rather primitive and static. Excepting charming Asther and noble John Mack Brown (Asther faring particularly well in the better written role), both of whom share an amiable chemistry with her, the supporting cast don't really stand out very much. Being a mix of theatrical and dull, pretty much eclipsed throughout by Garbo.

Faring weakest is the story, which is very familiar, conventional ground (even at the time) and can be fairly improbable and creaky.

Garbo really captivates though, and has slyness, grace and allure in bucketloads and a presence that is never less than riveting. As said, Asther and Brown give nice performances and complement her well, while John S. Robertson directs sensitively. The costumes are sumptuous, Garbo always looks ravishing, and the well designed sets don't seem too stuffy or stage-bound. The photography as said is variable, but it never quite fits my definition of terrible.

Music fits like a glove with a subtle charm and not hammering home. The film is entertaining and charming throughout, despite the story not being the greatest, and generally it doesn't feel draggy.

In conclusion, nice film and to be seen for Garbo, captivating as ever. 7/10

Greta Garbo, in her second to last silent film, beautifully plays a normal, young, American woman socialite, who longs for excitement and love, though she cannot quite figure out what "love" is. Her character, Arden, who seems to have no parents, and who seems to exist effortlessly and rather detached among the high society set, has a brief romantic fling with her chauffeur, which causes scandal among the posh set, when the driver, fired, takes his own life.

Arden next finds "love" with rogue artist Packy Cannon, played passionately, but a little shallowly, by handsome Nils Asther. Nils tempts her to join him spontaneously on a pleasure cruise, and we do get a few hints as to what pleasure Packy is up to with Arden, but really, their passion is quite restrained, considering what modern day films splash on the screen. After Packy has compromised Arden, he callously decides he "loves" Arden too much to continue seeing her, and orders the boat turned around. Arden is heartbroken, deposited back onshore like an old and weathered boat rudder.

She next finds "love" with an old admirer, Tommy, played sweetly and sensitively by anything-but-dull, good-looking Johnny Mack Brown. He proposes and, on the rebound from Packy, she accepts. Three years later they have a child together and a very happy marriage. It was nice to see Greta playing a normal woman who eventually puts her marriage first before her old flame, just like most normal American women would do today. There is no compromise here, Arden simply makes the wisest decision for all concerned, which is ultimately based on true love, for true love always endures perfect sacrifice.

The print is rather deteriorating in spots and quite scratchy, but really, after you have seen as many silents in poor condition as I have, this one is still above average. It just goes to show how the studios blatantly neglected their silent classics once sound came in, letting them deteriorate or disappear into rust. A tragic and short-sighted waste.

It was nice to see other silent film actors like Dorothy Sebastian (Spite Marriage) and Mahlon Hamilton (Little Old New York) in the cast, albeit in small roles. The musical score was the old Vitaphone one but still rather elegant, though I wouldn't say it was beautiful, as the other reviewers here have stated.

If you are a Garbo fan or a fan of nicely made silent films, you will enjoy The Single Standard.

Garbo is a free-spirited debutante who becomes scandalous for first having an affair with her chauffeur, then artist (Asther), all before she settles for millionaire Brown. Irrational soap opera is enjoyable thanks to Garbo's luminescence. A silent film with original music score.

The wealthy Arden Stuart (Greta Garbo) is bored in a party; after refusing the wedding proposal of Tommy Hewlett (John Mack Brown), she drives her car with her driver to a lonely place. She has one night stand with him and returns to the party; then she witnesses the driver being fired by a relative and committing suicide. In a rainy day, Arden goes to an exposition and meets the painter and aspirant boxer Packy Cannon (Nils Asther). They sail to the South Seas together in his sailboat and Arden falls in love for him. However, a couple of months later, Packy dumps her and brings her back to her city, traveling to China alone. The heartbroken Arden is proposed again by Tommy and gets married with him. Three years later, Arden meets Packy by chance and becomes divided between her unconditional love for Packy and the love for her son.

"The Single Standard" is a dated story about an emancipated woman in a hypocrite society where infidelity of men was accepted by his wives. Greta Garbo is astonishingly beautiful in the role of Arden Stuart, a woman ahead of time that believes in freedom and equal rights of "love" for men and women. It is very interesting to see the behavior and moral values of the dominant class in this silent movie, where apparently nobody works and seems to party every night. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "The Single Standard"

Note: On 14 May 2022, I saw this film again.