A Woman Of Affairs (1928)

When a disapproving father (Hobart Bosworth) prevents his son (John Gilbert) from marrying the woman (Greta Garbo) he loves, she weds another man (Johnny Mack Brown). But when her husband commits suicide, she is blamed and the scandal causes notoriety so she begins to live up to the reputation society has branded her with. Based on the controversial novel THE GREEN HAT by Michael Arlen and directed by the underrated Clarence Brown (NATIONAL VELVET). The novel it is based on was considered so shocking for its day that they couldn't use its title (THE GREEN HAT) and changed it to A WOMAN OF AFFAIRS and eliminated the novel's references to homosexuality, heroin and syphilis. What we're left with is a kitschy and overheated melodrama with very little meat to it. But we have the divine Garbo at the center of it and that's more than enough to recommend it. Her potent screen presence and acting ability transcend the hokum and bring some movie magic to the forefront. With Lewis Stone, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Dorothy Sebastian.