Romance

Elliottt Nugent wants to marry an actress and mama is very disapproving. She sends him to speak with her father, Bishop Gavin Gordon. When Nugent tells him he's too old to remember being young and in love, Gordon tells him of when he was 28 and in love with Greta Garbo, who was an opera singer (Gasp!).

Now that they had her talking, MGM wasted no time putting Garbo in this sentimental movie in which she's the kept woman of Lewis Stone with her best American director, Clarence Brown, and her preferred cinematographer, William H. Daniels. Miss Garbo's character is not as scorchin' as she had been in the silent era, but she is particularly lovely, especially in the final shot. It should be pre-code piffle, a story about a bad woman who done right in the end, but somehow it doesn't affect me that way. "It's Garbo" is the only explanation.

Romance is a very simple movie with nearly no plot twists, yet it is the basic romance from which we derive all our contemporary romances with. Forbidden love tries to take a role in this film, but does not exactly succeed. The cinematography is simply "mahvelous" for 1930, and Greta Garbo is stunning! She is the lady of the 1930s. The male leads are not as strong as Garbo, but what male lead ever will? The dialogue at times is weak, but for the most part fairly enjoyable. A great example of early romances! A must-see!

The great Greta Garbo in live with THIS guy??? Not a chance. Completely mismatched lovers in a sanctimonious love story. No disrespect but Gordon is totally wrong in this part. The story is just so-so. Lewis Stone is wonderful, as usual and Garbo is a delight. She plays a charming woman and displays quite a bit of humour in her second talkie.

Greta Garbo was always mesmerising in looks and in acting ability which leaves me in a dazzle every time when seeing any of her films. Not every film was great, a few like 'Romance' not even good, but she always transcended her material and made it better than deserved. Lewis Stone, in one of seven collaborations with Garbo, was always interesting to watch and with the right material Clarence Brown was a sympathetic director without being one of the greats in my mind.

'Romance' was Garbo's second talkie and while she comes off well, as does Stone, she and he were well above what they are given here (though they do the best they can with it). One of her weaker early talkies and a lesser early effort. Same goes for Stone. 'Romance' doesn't see Brown on form either. It was nominated for two Oscars/Academy Awards, Best Actress and Best Director, both puzzling in my humble opinion and am saying this with a heavy heart.

Both Garbo and Stone, as said, are not bad at all. Garbo's presence is magical and she gives a sincere performance. Stone is distinguished and has the film's most interesting character. They have nice chemistry which is far more interesting and makes much more sense than that between Garbo and Gavin Gordon.

Production values are high in quality and not too primitive, beautifully photographed and the interiors and costumes don't look too stage-bound. William Axt's music score doesn't get over-bearing and is quite lush.

However, the script is far too talky, which makes it feel very stagy and the talk itself is not engaging or natural in the least. While the story does nothing with a premise that was a stretch to begin with, it badly drags frequently, is incredibly flimsy (not enough content and the content never comes to life) and some of it is even more of a stretch than the premise itself. Brown's direction is undistinguished at best, he has been far more engaging and accomodating in other films of his.

Didn't believe in the chemistry between Garbo and Gordon for a second, there is no spark at all between them, no charm and the not explored enough relationship between Garbo and Stone rings true far more. It doesn't help that Gordon is incredibly weak in his role, the character is a dull one and Gordon makes him even more dreary and personality-void. The ending is hokey and felt last minute throw in. Nothing memorable about the rest of the cast.

On the whole, watchable for curiosity and completest sake but look elsewhere if you want Garbo especially done justice. 5/10

ROMANCE is one of Greta Garbo's most forgotten films and one can see why. It's basically a filmed stage-play and not much happens in it. In fact, if you watch ROMANCE and no other Garbo movie, you basically saw every other Garbo film. Garbo plays a European woman who is attached to an older man but falls in love with a younger man, who's beyond her reach. This is the same story for INSPIRATION, SUSAN LENOX, MATA HARI, CAMILLE, etc. One has a vivid sense of deja vu while watching it, certainly if you saw her other films just before this one. And certainly because it also stars one of Garbo's most frequent co-stars, Lewis Stone.

So, is ROMANCE good? Yes, it's good. Not great but good. The fact that the story resembles so many other Garbo films, which are better than this one, sorta makes it less good or original. It's probably Garbo's least "sleazy" story. She's not a tramp or prostitute. She plays an opera singer. There's something chaste about ROMANCE, which is probably the film's most original aspect.

Needless to say, ROMANCE is a must see for fans of Garbo. She's looks lovely and she's good in it, even if she's, like the story, a bit stagy herself.