The Single Standard | 1929 | Romantic Drama

Title: The Single Standard | 1929 | Romantic Drama Director: John S. Robertson Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Starring: Greta Garbo, Nils Asther, Johnny Mack Brown, Dorothy Sebastian Based on: The Single Standard by Adela Rogers St. Johns Release Date: July 27, 1929 Runtime: 73 Format: Black-and-white; synchronized music and sound effects ; Western Electric sound-on-film; English intertitles Country: United States Language: English intertitles Genres: Romance, Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Arden’s credo and the chauffeur 00:15:30 Packy Cannon and the yacht 00:35:00 Return home and marriage 00:52:00 Temptation rekindled 01:07:00 Choice and farewell --- Summary: Debutante Arden Stuart champions a “single standard” of conduct for men and women, seeking honesty and freedom in love. After a brief, ill-fated romance with a chauffeur, she is drawn to Packy Cannon, a wealthy ex-prizefighter turned painter. Impulsively, she sails away with him on a South Seas voyage that promises independence and passion. Returned to society, Arden marries her steadfast admirer Tommy Hewlett and becomes a mother. When Packy reappears years later, Arden must choose between rekindled desire and her responsibilities at home. Her decision tests the principles she once proclaimed and weighs personal fulfillment against loyalty and family. --- Background: MGM acquired screen rights to Adela Rogers St. Johns’s 1928 story, first serialized in Cosmopolitan and then published as a novel. Filmed in Hollywood in April–May 1929, the production was released as a non-talking sound film with synchronized score and effects recorded via the Western Electric sound-on-film system. Premiering on July 27, 1929, it was part of Greta Garbo’s late silent-era cycle of “non-talking” sound features and reflects the industry’s transition from silent storytelling to synchronized sound. --- Trivia: The film was Garbo’s fifteenth screen appearance and her second collaboration with Nils Asther. Johnny Mack Brown is credited on screen as John Mack Brown. Early uncredited roles include Joel McCrea and Robert Montgomery. Trade reports noted a novel underwater-filming setup using deck-mounted cameras and mirrors for certain sequences. Contemporary censors in Chicago classified the picture “adults only,” and its first week there reportedly set a major local gross. Theme music titled “Forever With You” was composed by Louis Alter. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: July 27, 1929 Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: GretaGarbo PublicDomain ClassicFilm 1929 RomanticDrama SilentEra MGM Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Single_Standard_(1929).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/The_Single_Standard_%281929%29.webm