Romance (1930)

A young minister (Gavin Gordon) from an aristocratic family falls madly in love with a notorious opera singer (Greta Garbo), who unbeknownst to him is the mistress of his good friend (Lewis Stone). Based on the play by Edward Sheldon (previously filmed in 1920) and directed by Clarence Brown (NATIONAL VELVET). Boy, does this flick creak! This film was the follow up vehicle for Garbo after her first sound film ANNA CHRISTIE. It was well received critically at the time and Garbo received a best actress Oscar nomination and Brown a best director nomination but today, the movie comes across as a tedious dry run for the later and superior CAMILLE (1936). But Garbo isn't at her best and one can only wonder what she sees in the mundane Gavin Gordon (best known for his Lord Byron in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN). However, the public lapped it up and MGM could breathe a sigh of relief ... sound and Garbo were here to stay. For Garbo fans only. With Elliott Nugent (who would soon become a director in his own right) and Florence Lake.