The Single Standard
7.2 /10 1 Votes7.2
Budget 336,000 USD Duration Country United States | 7/10 IMDb Genre Drama, Romance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Language SilentEnglish intertitles Release date July 27, 1929 (1929-07-27) Cast (Arden Stuart), (Packy Cannon), (Tommy Hewlett), (Mercedes), (Ding Stuart), (Glendenning) Similar movies Factory Girl , Dust Devils , Burning Man: Voyage in Utopia , AquaBurn , Drama in the Desert: The Sights and Sounds of Burning Man , Andy Warhol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arden Stuart (Greta Garbo) is a feminist ahead of her time, believing that a "single standard" should be applied to both sexes. Instead of marrying and settling down, she juggles numerous suitors. She moves from the lovelorn Tommy (Johnny Mack Brown) to a playboy prizefighter with artistic intentions, Packy (Nils Asther). Arden and Packy sail the South Seas together, but after a falling-out she returns home, marries Tommy and has a child. But are Ardens old ways really behind her?
Contents
The Single Standard is a 1929 romantic drama film directed by veteran John S. Robertson and starring Greta Garbo, Nils Asther, and Johnny Mack Brown.
This was Greta Garbos fifteenth film and her second collaboration with fellow Swedish actor Nils Asther, after Wild Orchids.
A bored socialite finds fleeting romance with an artist.
Plot
Arden Stuart (Greta Garbo) believes that a single standard of conduct should apply to both sexes. She strives for a combination of freedom, equality, and honesty in love. Her first attempt is with chauffeur Anthony Kendall, who is secretly a disillusioned "ace aviator" and son of a lord. However their romance ends in disaster; he commits suicide when he is fired because of it.
Her longtime admirer Tommy Hewlett (Johnny Mack Brown) wants to marry her, but Arden finds fulfillment in a chance encounter with Packy Cannon (Nils Asther), a wealthy ex-prizefighter turned painter. He had planned to cruise the South Seas on his yacht alone, but she impulsively goes with him. After months of idyllic bliss however, he turns around and takes her home, explaining that he needs his full attention for his painting.
Though Tommy knows of Ardens love for Packy, he begs her to marry him anyway. She agrees. Several years go by, and they have a much-beloved son.
However, Packy returns and admits to Arden that he could not stop thinking about her. She is swept away and agrees to sail away with him. Tommy confronts his rival with a gun; he orders Packy to pretend to reject Arden, promising to arrange a hunting "accident" for himself, so that Arden can be with Packy without a scandal that would hurt his son. Meanwhile, Arden comes to realize that their child means more to her than anyone else. She tells Packy she cannot go with him. Tommy, unaware of this latest development, arranges his shooting accident, but Arden figures it out in time.
Cast
Production
Production took place in April and May 1929, in Hollywood, California (USA). Production stills photographs were made by James Manatt and production portraits were taken by Ruth Harriet Louise on May 1929.
This is often referred to as a "silent" film. It is not. It contained a soundtrack with an orchestral score and sound effects.
Garbos last three "silent" films, WILD ORCHIDS, THE SINGLE STANDARD and THE KISS, were all "sound" films with orchestral scores and sound effects.
Critical reception
"Beautifully photographed in the MGM manner by Oliver Marsh, The Single Standard is a prime example of how to tell an essentially "talkie" story within the confines of the silent film."
Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Box office
The film garnered receipts of $1,048,000 ($659,000 in the US and $389,000 abroad), vs. a budget of $336,000. It was one of the top grossing films of the year.
Similar Movies
Johnny Mack Brown and Nils Asther appear in The Single Standard and Our Dancing Daughters. Greta Garbo and Johnny Mack Brown appear in The Single Standard and A Woman of Affairs. Greta Garbo appears in The Single Standard and The Temptress. Greta Garbo appears in The Single Standard and The Mysterious Lady. Greta Garbo and Nils Asther appear in The Single Standard and Wild Orchids.
Home media
The film was released on VHS home video in the 1980s(within Garbos lifetime) with its original Movietone soundtrack and effects and appears on television with the Movietone. In 2009 The Single Standard was issued on DVD release for the first time.
References
The Single Standard WikipediaThe Single Standard IMDb The Single Standard themoviedb.org