The Temptress (1926)

Elena (Greta Garbo) is married to the Marquis Fontenoy (Marc MacDermott) and is given to a banker by her husband in exchange for financial support to live a luxurious lifestyle. At a masquerade, Elena meets Manuel Robledo (Antonio Moreno), an Argentine engineer, and they fall in love. Elena has had many affairs before, but Manuel is the first man she has truly loved. When Manuel learns that Elena is married, he returns to Argentina. Elena follows him there and her husband is killed. There is conflict and murder among Manuel's assistants at a dam project over Elena, and Manos Duros (Roy D'Arcy), an enemy of Manuel, destroys the dam with dynamite. Manuel tries to repair the dam, but his efforts are thwarted by a storm. He blames Elena for all the problems and goes to kill her, but ultimately decides not to because he still loves her. Elena realizes that she will only bring ruin to Manuel if she stays, so she leaves. Years later, Manuel is in Paris with his fiancee, Celinda (Virginia Brown Faire), and he discovers that Elena is now a streetwalker. Before he leaves, he puts money in Elena's purse to help her out.

Books with substantial mentioning of The Temptress

		David Thomson Have you seen?, A personal introduction to 1,000 films New York, 2008

		Robert K. Klepper Silent Films, 1877-1996, A Critical Guide to 646 Movies Jefferson, North Carolina and London, 1999

		Jerry Vermilye The Films of the Twenties Secaucus, NJ, 1985

		Stanley Hochman (editor) From Quasimodo to Scarlett O'Hara, A National Board of Review Anthology 1920 - 1940 New York, 1982

		Michael Conway, Dion McGregor and Mark Ricci The Films of Greta Garbo Secaucus, New Jersey, 1973