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"New Woman", Garbo Fights The Sexual Double Standard
Being one of MGM's last stars to take the plunge into the new world of "talkies", Greta Garbo was still making silent features till the end of 1929 long after most stars had faced the microphone. Having witnessed the abrupt ending to so many performers careers because of thick accents that didn't match their already established screen personas, MGM's fear of what Garbo's until then unheard accent might do to her career was entirely understandable. They had purposely delayed her speaking debut but in this silent production her image was considerably "Americanised" possibly in an attempt to make her "more acceptable" to the Middle American audiences. Indeed "The Single Standard" was touted in the trade papers as Garbo's "first 100% American role", and she gets to play a flighty San Francisco debutante with very modern views on the sexual double standards then existing between men and women.

Based on a novel by famed writer Adela Rogers St. John, "The Single Standard", focuses on the escapades of free thinking, sexually liberated debutante Arden Stuart. She is a typical product of the "New Generation", of the carefree 1920's that rebels against the staid standards then existing in a society that condones men's sexual dalliances but condemms the same actions in women as immoral. Arden is a total individual and free thinker and after a romantic interlude with her chaffeur which ends tragically, she happens one rainy day to encounter bohemian artist Packy Cannon (Nils Asther)at a gallery showing of some of his work. It is an instant attraction on both a physical and emotional level between the two and Arden being the impulsive creature that she is decides to bypass the affections of solid, respectable Tommy Hewlett (Johnny Mack Brown) with his sturdy and predictable future ahead of him, for a trip to the South Seas on Packy's yacht "All Alone". The interlude is a lazily romantic one with the pair spending their idle days on the sun drenched decks however Packy decides to go onto Paris to commence his work and insists on dropping Arden back in San Francisco on the way. Having become the object of scandalous gossip in her absense Arden finds herself isolated socially and on the rebound from Packy falls into the arms of the respectable Tommy who she marries all the while telling him that Packy is in her blood and always will be. A few years pass and Arden and Tommy have a child and a lifestyle which is respectable if lacking in real excitment. On a trip to the beach Arden by chance encounters Packy who has returned from Paris and immediately the old passion between the two is reignited. Tommy seeing the old attraction rising between his wife and the artist confronts Packy about his feelings towards Arden and always considering her feelings above his own decides in a very self sacrificing moment to "exit" the scene by faking a hunting accident to free Arden from the respectable but dull life she is leading. Unbeknown to him however Arden has had second thoughts about throwing everything away to go running off with Packy now that she has a child who she adores and who is the centre of her life. She only just manages to head off Tommy purposely killing himself and they begin a reconciliation and new life together as they watch Packy sail off on his yacht and out of their lives.

Greta Garbo delivers I believe one of her most lively and likeable performances in "The Single Standard". Her delivery is full of energy and a vibrance not normally associated with her more famous work and she is totally believable as the fun loving girl who learns responsibility and maturity through her own misfortunes. Anyone who only knows the sombre Garbo of numerous screen tragedies needs to view her performance here to see what she was capable of achieving given a more energic vehicle to perform in. Nils Asther a danish actor who enjoyed great popularity in the late silent era performs well as Packy the bohemian artist but he has a difficult job competing with Garbo in the acting stakes. Both the main men in Arden's life, Asther and Johnny Mack Brown seem to be somehow unworthy of this alluring creature who is torn between the respectability offered by Tommy and the excitement offered by Packy. Johnny Mack Brown does a servicable job as the respectable husband who lives in the shadow of Arden's real passion and his usually bland screen persona serves his character very well here. John S. Robertson, a great silent director who guided Mary Pickford through many great performances really works well with Garbo here and never once does he let Garbo, as Arden lose track of those inner feelings the character is experiencing. Garbo's face is totally alive throughout this film, whether it be delight at the passion she is feeling with Packy, anguish over hurting the dependable Tommy or causing harm to her beautiful child. Interestingly "The Single Standard", is a rare Garbo vehicle where a child is featured in the film and her rapport with the infant in this story is totally appealing and shows an unexpectedly maternal side to Garbo's acting.

Despite it's somewhat daring subject matter for the time "The Single Standard", does conclude with Arden choosing the conventional and safe option in life. The times then, certainly in regard to Hollywood film making, made that type of a conclusion to such a tale as this mandatory. Along the way however there is much exploration done on the need for a "single standard", rather than the "double one" in the sexual relationships between men and women. It is this element that makes "The Single Standard", such interesting viewing today. Greta Garbo is the body and soul of this production so it offers a unique opportunity to see her in a very nontraditional role on the eve of her sound debut. Enjoy a vibrant and delightfully carefree Garbo fighting for a single standard in a male dominated world of double standards in MGM's glossy "The Single Standard".

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Director Robertson coaxes a nice performance from Garbo
Greta Garbo plays Arden Stuart, a San Francisco debutante, who falls in love with Packy Cannon (Nils Asther), a fighting sailor who has become an artist. They go off together on a yacht for a good time, but when he leaves to go to Paris, she finds herself an outcast back in San Francisco. She ends up marrying Tommy Hewlett (John Mack Brown), who has always loved her, and they have a child. Of course, Packy returns and when Arden is drawn to him her husband contemplates suicide. Arden has to choose between her family and another romantic escape. "The Single Standard" was one of the first films in which critics actually accused Garbo of acting rather than simply just looking seductive. The credit goes to John S. Robertson, who directed this 1929 silent film and who had coaxed similarly impressive performances from Mary Pickford, John Barrymore and Lillian Gish. The story is not much, although certainly the ending would appease the censors who were targeting sexuality in Hollywood's films. For me the problem is that Garbo's leading men always seem so inadequate and the Gauguin-like artist played by Asther is more laughable than most.