It should come as no surprise that the 1929/30 awards would see the second double nomination occur, with not one, but two actresses receiving nominations for two of their films.  The early thirties are regarded as a renaissance of sorts for women in film, as some of the greatest actresses emerged during this time, and some of the most memorable roles were created. 

Five women were nominated that year, in a total of seven films.  The nominees included Gloria Swanson for The Trespasser, Nancy Carroll for The Devil's Holiday, and Ruth Chatterton for Sarah and Son.  The other two nominees were cited for two films each.  Greta Garbo for Anna Christie and Romance, and Norma Shearer for Their Own Desire and The Divorcee (for which she won). 

Garbo, as a determined vamp, and Shearer, as a modern day gal, couldn't have been more opposite from each other, however their films often achieved similar results, as they played women that were both strong and controversial.  

Norma Shearer will forever be remembered as the sweet and proper society lady, thanks in large part to her most memorable roles in films such as The Women and The Barrett's of Wimple Street.  As Mick LaSalle, in his book, Complicated Women argues, her best work was buried under the weight of the Hayes Code in 1934, which prevented Hollywood from making films about liberated women.  

In The Divorcee, Shearer does the unspeakable, and has a one night stand with her husband's best friend when she finds out that he has been unfaithful to her.  Such a role would have been unheard of after the Hayes Code was put into place, and as a result, this and many other Shearer films were stored away in vaults, where they were forgotten for many years. 

Shearer actually hated the other film for which she was nominated for, a light-hearted romantic drama, Their Own Desire.  She was cast in the picture by her husband, Irving Thalberg, who felt that her persona needed to be toned down, lest her public image be tarnished. 

Meanwhile, Garbo's Anna Christie marked her debut in talking pictures.  The tag line for the film read GARBO SPEAKS!, and fans showed up in droves to hear the elusive star for the very first time.  In the film, she plays a prostitute, who comes home to see her long lost father.  Garbo was also nominated that year for Romance, in which she plays a woman who carries on an affair with a clergyman.  

Shearer showed up for the ceremony, and graciously accepted the Oscar for The Divorcee, despite cries from others who felt that her win was the result of a campaign launched by her movie mogul husband, Irving Thalberg.  Meanwhile, as was typical for Garbo, she didn't appear at that year's ceremony.  While this may have been regarded as a slight on the Academy, it shouldn't have been taken personally, as Garbo rarely made public appearances.

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