Swedish actress Greta Garbo received an "Academy Award for Best Actress" nomination for this movie in 1930. Interestingly enough, in that same year, she was also nominated for her first 'talking' movie "Anna Christie (1930)". Unfortunately, even with two nominations, she lost out to Canadian-born actress Norma Shearer who starred in "The Divorcee (1930)".


The storyline of the movie "Romance (1930)" is quite uncomplcated for those who have seen far too many hopeless romances.

Shy Tom Armstrong, who is at first disgusted with the beautiful Rita Cavallini, soon falls head over heels in love with her. It is an impossible love, as they are from two different worlds. He is the rector of St. Giles Church and she is a famous Italian opera singer.

It is the splendid performance of Greta Garbo that lifts this romance above your average love story. The playful teasing of Rita at the first encounter, shocking and intimidating to Tom, is wonderfully done. And so it is with each scene between them: she flirts in her husky, seductive voice and he, desperately in love, makes some feebly attempt to keep his composure.

Tom's wealthy and aristocratic family are not pleased with his choice and she has a dark secret that could bring shame on all of them.

However, that does not discourage him from pledging his true unconditional love for her.

Is their love enough or will this all end tragically?

Side note:

See also this post.