Romance (1930)

Young Harry is in love and wants to marry an actress, much to the displeasure of his family. Harry thinks that Bishop Armstrong knows nothing about love so Armstrong tells him the story of ... See full summary »

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Edward Sheldon (from the play by), Bess Meredyth (screenplay)

Stars:

Greta Garbo, Lewis Stone, Gavin Gordon

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Greta Garbo	...	Rita Cavallini
Lewis Stone	...	Cornelius Van Tuyl
Gavin Gordon	...	Tom Armstrong
Elliott Nugent	...	Harry
Florence Lake	...	Susan Van Tuyl
Clara Blandick	...	Abigail Armstrong
Henry Armetta	...	Beppo
Mathilde Comont	...	Vannucci
Rina De Liguoro	...	Nina (as Countess De Rina)

Storyline

Young Harry is in love and wants to marry an actress, much to the displeasure of his family. Harry thinks that Bishop Armstrong knows nothing about love so Armstrong tells him the story of Rita and himself. Rita was an Opera Star singing in New York who was at a party given by Cornelius. Armstrong was a 28 year old rector. He fell for Rita when he saw her and after six weeks he wanted to marry her. Naive as he was, he thought that all of Rita's "relationships" were in the distant past, but Rita lives for the moment and knows that she can never marry Armstrong.

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Plot Keywords:

opera | illicit love | singer | new york city | new year's eve | 

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Taglines:

Such a love story as you've never seen---Such heights of pure magic as never obtained even by gorgeous Garbo! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Lindsey Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - September 9, 1930)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Previously produced as the silent film Romance (1920) starring Doris Keane, who had originated the role of Rita Cavallini in the stage play.

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Quotes

Cornelius Van Tuyl: I'm not complaining. I've lived my life and its been very sweet. But the fact remains, I've lived my life. Don't you waste your Springtime on a stupid old fellow, 51 years old.

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Alternate Versions

MGM also issued this movie as a silent, but little details are known.

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Connections

Featured in MGM Parade: Episode #1.30 (1956)

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Soundtracks

Liebestraum No. 3 (A Dream of Love)
(1850) (uncredited)
Music by Franz Liszt
Played on piano by Greta Garbo

User Reviews

a couple yrs before grand hotel

Greta Garbo is Rita, the opera diva. Lewis Stone is Cornelius, who thinks he's in love with Rita. but so are so many others. SO much talking (talkies had just come into being.) it just goes on and on. Many similarities to Grand Hotel... Garbo is the diva, who finds love, but this one moves a lot slower than grand hotel. a very typical, morose, sad, Garbo. Directed by Clarence Brown, who was a force, and also directed the huge 1944 National Velvet. Brown and Garbo were both nominated for oscars. Stone and Garbo were also both in Grand Hotel, the later MGM hit. Good stuff, but watch Grand Hotel instead... so much better. Hotel has Joan Crawford and a bunch of Barrymores.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Romantik

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$496,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1