Public Domain Movies

A Woman of Affairs is a 1928 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer synchronized sound drama film directed by Clarence Brown and starring Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Lewis Stone. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process.

Diana Merrick (Greta Garbo), Neville (John Gilbert) and David (Johnny Mack Brown) were playmates as children, members of the rich British aristocracy. Diana and Neville are in love, but his father (Hobart Bosworth) opposes the match, disapproving the Merrick family's lifestyle. Neville is sent to Egypt for business purposes and to become wealthy.

Diana, after waiting in vain for two years for Neville's return, finally marries David, who is also in love with her and good friends with her brother Jeffry (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). During their honeymoon David commits suicide. Diana does not explain the reasons behind her husband's action, except to say, "He died for decency." Jeffry, who was deeply connected to David, blames his sister for his friend's death; he falls deeper into alcohol as his sister starts a reckless life, well-publicized by tabloid-esque publications tracking her numerous affairs.

Years later, Neville returns to England to marry Constance (Dorothy Sebastian). Jeffry is now gravely ill, and Diana brings Dr. Trevelyan, a family friend, to his bedside and then leaves since Jeffry still refuses to see her. As she starts to drive away, she sees Neville who has followed her and Dr. Trevelyan in a cab. Diana and Neville go to his apartment, realize they are still in love, and spend that one night together. During the night Jeffry dies. Dr. Trevelyan goes to Neville's apartment in the morning to give him the news and discovers that Diana has spent the night there. Three days later, Neville marries Constance.

About nine months go by: Diana falls ill (in the script she is supposed to have suffered a miscarriage, but because of censorship, this couldn't be mentioned) and is visited by Neville. Diana professes her love for him before realizing Constance is in the room. Neville asks Diana for forgiveness and promises that they will be together.

Upon learning of their decision to move to South America Sir Morton sends Diana a letter asking for a meeting so they can talk things over. There he tells her that he's unhappy with the couple because he believes that she is dishonorable and undeserving of his son.

Neville and Constance arrive, mad at his father's rudeness towards Diana he decides to reveal the real reason of David's death, believing that it would sway his father's opinion of Diana. David had been embezzling money for some time, and decided to commit suicide once he realized he was going to be arrested. After that Diana used her own money to reimburse all of his victims, in secrecy, to keep her husband's honor and her brother's memory of him.

Diana is convinced that the only reason Neville decided to be with her isn't because of love but because he finally believes she is honoured. Saddened she decides to break things up by announcing that Constance is pregnant. Amid the furor she leaves.

Constance denies it so they drive out in search for Diana. They find her car overturned after it ran into the tree in front of which she and Neville had fallen in love and sworn eternal fidelity.

Cast
Greta Garbo – Diana Merrick Furness
John Gilbert – Neville "Nevs" Holderness
Lewis Stone – Dr. Hugh Trevelyan
Johnny Mack Brown – David Furness (as John Mack Brown)
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. – Jeffry Merrick
Hobart Bosworth – Sir Morton Holderness
Dorothy Sebastian – Constance