Had the romance in Romance been between Greta Garbo and Lewis Stone, it would have been a great movie. Unfortunately, Greta falls in love with Gavin Gordon and leaves her boyfriend Lew out in the cold. It makes absolutely no sense, and the entire running time, I kept hoping she'd come to her senses. She has a boyfriend who's exceedingly wealthy, well-dressed, well-groomed, accepting of her past, generous, unselfish to a fault, sweet, even-tempered, and supportive of her career-and she tosses him aside for a poor minister with unkempt hair and no fashion sense, who's emotional, judgmental, critical, dishonest, pushy, and not self-aware. What's wrong with her? "I'll hear you singing in my heart forever," Lew says as he kisses her palm. How can she let him walk out the door?
At the start of the movie, when Greta and Gavin first sense the sparks flying between them, Lew tries to bow out graciously. He sits Greta down, tells her he's feeling his age, and rattles off a list of imaginary ailments. He encourages her to leave him and pursue a relationship with Gavin, but cautions her not to reveal her colored past, since it's obvious Gavin won't accept her as she is. If it's so obvious he won't love her anymore if he learns she's had a string of rich sugar daddies in her past, why is it good for either of them to enter into a relationship based on deceit? Greta should stay with Lew, who knows, accepts, and loves her. If you agree, don't rent this one. Stick with The Painted Veil if you're a Greta fan, or The Office Wife if you like Lew in the romantic role.
At the start of the movie, when Greta and Gavin first sense the sparks flying between them, Lew tries to bow out graciously. He sits Greta down, tells her he's feeling his age, and rattles off a list of imaginary ailments. He encourages her to leave him and pursue a relationship with Gavin, but cautions her not to reveal her colored past, since it's obvious Gavin won't accept her as she is. If it's so obvious he won't love her anymore if he learns she's had a string of rich sugar daddies in her past, why is it good for either of them to enter into a relationship based on deceit? Greta should stay with Lew, who knows, accepts, and loves her. If you agree, don't rent this one. Stick with The Painted Veil if you're a Greta fan, or The Office Wife if you like Lew in the romantic role.