Romance
About Romance
On New Year's Eve, Bishop Armstrong (Lewis Stone) tells his grandson Harry (Elliott Nugent), who wants to marry an actress, about his own youth. As Tom Armstrong (Gavin Gordon), rector of St. Giles in New York, he meets the Italian opera singer Rita Cavallini (Greta Garbo) at a party given by Cornelius Van Tuyl and falls in love with her despite talk that she is Van Tuyl's mistress. His family objects. On another New Year's Eve they agree to part because of the difference in their stations. He later married someone else. He tells Harry to marry the woman he loves anyway.
Cast & crew
More about Romance
Clarence Brown directed and produced. Edwin Justus Mayer and Bess Meredyth adapted Edward Sheldon's 1913 play. William H. Daniels photographed it. Hugh Wynn edited. William Axt wrote the music. Cedric Gibbons designed the sets. The New York opening was 22 August 1930. AFI dates the general release 26 August 1930. It runs 76 minutes. MGM's books show a cost of $496,000, a U.S. gross of $733,000, $523,000 elsewhere, a worldwide gross of $1,256,000, and a profit of $287,000. A 1920 silent version starred Doris Keane, who had played Rita on stage.
Themes
Making
Brown framed the 1860s affair as a story an old bishop tells on New Year's Eve, so Garbo's Rita is a memory inside Lewis Stone's narration.
Look
William H. Daniels photographed Garbo at Van Tuyl's party and in the rector's rooms.
Music
William Axt wrote the music.
Preservation
The 76-minute MGM release survives.
Notes
- At the 3rd Academy Awards Garbo was nominated for Best Actress for this film and for Anna Christie. Brown was nominated for Best Director for the same pair.
- The picture was also issued in a silent version.
- Copyright LP1438, 28 July 1930, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp. The negative is about 6,977 feet.
- Rina De Liguoro plays Nina. Florence Lake and Clara Blandick are in the cast.
- Sound is Movietone.
Scenes
- Harry tells his grandfather he will marry an actress, and the bishop starts the story of Rita.
- Tom meets Rita at Cornelius Van Tuyl's party.
- They agree to separate on New Year's Eve.
Influenced by
- Romance, play by Edward Sheldon (1913)
