Woman of Affairs (Silent)

Diana plunges into the kind of life that explains the film's title, but after two years David's perseverance is rewarded: she marries him. Two imaginative shots depict the beginning and the end of their marriage: Diana, shown in the most flattering light awaits her husband, in whose integrity she believes, in her marriage bed. He has rice in his hand, but the grains run through his fingers. Two men await him and he jumps from the window in his panic, while his wife turns the lights on and off...

Why should a happy man take his life? In an act of selflessness Diana decides to protect his memory rather than vindicate herself. She endures her brother's insults, his repudiation. Neville believes in her, but his father interferes again. He will not yield to her imploring looks.

Diana resumes her turbulent life: Longchamps, Monte Carlo, St. Moritz, Biarritz, Kairo. She returns to England after seven years to nurse her brother whose liver lost its struggle against his drinking habit. She nearly turns up at Neville's engagement party. His marriage to Constance is to take place in three days. He keeps an eye on his bride's innocence (You use too much lipstick). Constance is curious of Diana, but Sir Morton is disgruntled: One does not talk about Diana; She is declassee.

While Geoffrey remains implacable, Neville is conscience-stricken and brings Diana to his apartment. She tempts him ("The ring is loose, it's like myself: it falls easily") and we are tempted by the prospect of seeing one of the very first horizontal bed scenes: Diana lies down on the bed in an inviting pose ("Did you love all those men?" "No, my heart remained faithful to you") and he lies down upon her - but all we see is her hand: for a while she makes an effort to hold the ring - then it falls...

Some people cause trouble even in death: Diana's brother, for instance. The moment of his exit was so cleverly chosen, that Neville and Diana feel more guilt towards him than the living Constance...

Nine months later: Diana, ill and delirious, cries for Neville. Constance, Now Mrs. Neville, reminds her husband of his duty. He has no idea what's wrong with Diana, not even when she holds his flowers like a baby and speaks to them...At this point the women start a who-is-more-selfless-contest: both are willing to renounce. They deliver so many disclaimers, that Neville may wonder if the ladies want him at all...Ah, and Diana has still to be cleared of the responsibility for David's suicide...

Snobs will dismiss this film as the twenties version of a soap opera. It is expensive, fashionable and hollow, the action stumbles along and when the director has a brain wave he rubs our nose in it. And yet it has a strange appeal: isn't it a comforting thought that the taste of the audience has changed so little? I rather enjoyed the film, for it has all the charm of a dancing elephant: a plump animal, but it moves with grace.

Her own reputation tarnished, the widow Diana goes abroad and lives the loose life everyone expects of her. When she returns to England, she finds that true love Neville is engaged and her brother is in a worse drunken state than before. Will she lose them both along with her sanity? Get this film and find out! Beautifully acted--Garbo definitely shows off her toughness in this one. This version also includes a wonderful musical score. It is an hour and 37 minutes. I also recommend Flesh and the Devil-my favorite Garbo/Gilbert film.

Adapted from the novel "The Green Hat" by Michael Arlen, this 1929 film was directed by Clarence Brown. Garbo's performance holds the film together with help from a nice performance from Fairbanks and a solid effort from Lewis Stone as Dr. Hugh Trevelyan. The plot, of course, is basically the same as most Garbo films, a fallen woman seeking redemption. Bess Meredyth's screenplay was nominated for an Oscar, although some were dismayed that the Hays Office censors changed David's venereal disease into embezzlement. Much has been made of the change from "purity" to "decency" that resulted, but then who wants to pass up an opportunity to bash the censors. In fact, the names of the characters were changed by the Hays Office and we can only imagine what would have happened to the nation's morals if Garbo had played someone named Iris March.

See what the art of silent film acting is all about. It's an art form all by itself, which many actors of today may have failed miserably at.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. does a brilliant job with the character of Garbo's doomed alcoholic brother. Dorothy Sebastian perfect as the jilted wife.

Carl Davis, the brilliant composer,who scored Pride and Prejudice, among others, along with many other silent films, rescored this restored silent film with an understanding and knowledge of this era, no other composer could even attempt. We can only hope he will rescore many other silent films (hopefully the Gilbert/Garbo film "LOVE," costaring John Gilbert). Carl Davis' silent film scores are available on his CD "The Silents"