Movie Monday: A Woman of Affairs (1928)

Movie Monday was created to celebrate all of the classics, and cinematic history. Today is no exception. A Woman of Affairs is the perfect example of why cinema history is so important to understand and appreciate. This film has two legendary actors starring in it — John Gilbert and Greta Garbo.

If you have been reading Movie Monday posts for any length of time, you probably are familiar with my love for all things John Gilbert and Greta Garbo! This duo are easily my favorite silent film couple, and they are two actors who I consider legendary talents.

It should come as no surprise that I believe A Woman of Affairs is their best film together. Not only do these have a stride figured out when it comes to performing together, but they also stand out as individual actors as well!

Garbo, in my opinion, cemented her spot in cinematic history with her performance in this film. Her eyes are the key to Garbo’s entire character. She is able to inflict any emotion that the scene calls for with the most simple of maneuvers. There is also a subtle dominance Garbo uses when it comes to her gestures. A great example is pictured above. When Garbo grabs Gilbert’s shoulder, it is her way of showing that she is trying to convince him of something and get his attention. These gestures are important since this is a silent film, after all, and there is no way to share that emotion via voice inflections.

I don’t want to forget John Gilbert’s performance in A Woman of Affairs. Yes, Greta Garbo is a bit of a show stealer when it comes to this duo, but Gilbert still holds his own. The audience can easily see the conflict in his mind when it comes to his affair with Garbo. However, Gilbert shows his concern a little differently than his counterpart does. The chosen method for Gilbert is through facial movements, not the eyes. Despite this distinction, the eyes still play a crucial role is passing along the emotional message when using facial gestures in cinema.

Possibly my favorite and the most poignant scene in this entire film is the hospital scene. If you haven’t ever watched A Woman of Affairs before, there are clips of it on YouTube. I highly recommend watching it even if you do not see the entire film alongside this one scene. The reason I think everyone should watch this one moment of the film is because of how unforgettable it is.

Before I ever became interested in silent films, I had scene documentaries about Greta Garbo and this hospital scene was always one that was highlighted for her talent. It always stuck with me, and seeing it while watching A Woman of Affairs completely through made it that much more special.

This hospital scene makes you want to weep along with Garbo as she clutches the flowers that were once beside her bed. It makes you feel a certain sense of betrayal from Gilbert. There is also a certain about of resolve over the relationship that Gilbert and Garbo’s characters had in this film that the audience can conclusively reach.

A Woman of Affairs is my favorite John Gilbert and Greta Garbo movie. This is a film that needs to be treasured for more than just the fact that it doesn’t have sound, but also because of the immense skill that is on display with all of the actors. It’s iconic, exciting, and most of all unforgettable.

Much Love,

Sarah