The Warner Archive print of The Single Standard is not in an immaculate condition, but I'd give it 9/10 nonetheless. This time, Nils Asther has a more complex role, but either he or director John S. Robertson decided that the part should be played with little depth so as not to distract viewers from the Garbo character who rightly occupies center stage. In fact the only actor whose role rivals Asther's is Johnny Mack Brown. Mr. Brown is awful, as usual, but he doesn't come across too badly because Robertson artfully places him in Garbo's shadow, thus diluting his excessive hamming to a point where he often (but not always) seems reasonably tolerable.
All the other roles are small. Third-billed Dorothy Sebastian has such a miniscule part that most viewers would be unaware that she's in the picture at all. Aside from the three leads, the only players who make any impression are Joel McCrea as leader of the opening party-goers, Wade Boteler in an unusual role as an umbrella snatcher and Fred Solm as the hapless chauffeur.
This time, the alluring Garbo is photographed by Oliver T. Marsh. In both this films and "Wild Orchids", she is costumed by Adrian. And both films have delightfully atmospheric music scores composed and conducted by William Axt. Oddly, Wild Orchids also has lots of sound effects, but Single Standard, though released later in 1929, has none at all. Not even a lion's roar!
All the other roles are small. Third-billed Dorothy Sebastian has such a miniscule part that most viewers would be unaware that she's in the picture at all. Aside from the three leads, the only players who make any impression are Joel McCrea as leader of the opening party-goers, Wade Boteler in an unusual role as an umbrella snatcher and Fred Solm as the hapless chauffeur.
This time, the alluring Garbo is photographed by Oliver T. Marsh. In both this films and "Wild Orchids", she is costumed by Adrian. And both films have delightfully atmospheric music scores composed and conducted by William Axt. Oddly, Wild Orchids also has lots of sound effects, but Single Standard, though released later in 1929, has none at all. Not even a lion's roar!