Making a tribute to Greta Garbo, née Greta Lovisa Gustafasson an intelligent, beautiful, elegant lady who became one of the greatest actress of Hollywood and a legend in the film industry. Some named her “The Sphinx of the screen” due to her aloof character and enigmatic personality. She refused to be interviewed, most of times did not attend to her film premiers or Oscar events, she kept away from most social events and instead enjoyed a reclusive private lifestyle.
*** Photograph: Greta Garbo, received one
of Rin Tin Tin's puppies. "Rin Tin Tin", a
famous German Shepherd in the film industry,
during the 1920's.
Greta, born in Stockholm Sweden, one of the third children who was obliged to leave school and start working at the age of 14 years old as her family came from an impoverish background. Her mother had odd jobs of cleaning and sewing, then Greta's father became more weak and extremely ill, led to his unfortunate early demise. Garbo became suddenly one of the family's bread winner, her first work was in a soap lather barber, then eventually started in another shop where she became a sales assistant in the millinery department store. There they also hired her as a fashion model for the store's outfits, for photography advertisements and short film commercials. Greta's natural beauty was clearly projected, she was eventually discovered by a film Director Erik Arthur Petschler, who encouraged her to start acting roles in the film industry. Mr Petschler, gave her a small part in his short, low budget, slapstick comedy film "Peter the Tramp" duly released in 1922. It marked such a great experience that convinced Greta to pursue an acting career.
Garbo's high admiration for Mary Pickford, a famous actress of the Silent era and the beginning of the Talkies Films, encouraged and determined her even more to become a professional actress thus she studied at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy in Stockholm from 1922 to 1924. It was a solid foundation as it increased her self-assurance and led for more acting roles in the Silent Films Industry.
Greta worked in acting roles with Director Mauritz Stiller. Apparently, Stiller was very strict, had strong controlling character and a close protective relationship with Greta, he even decided to change her name from Greta Lovisa Gustafsson to Greta Garbo. The eventual meeting with Mr Luis B. Mayer, who was the vice president and general manager of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, whom had direct contact with Mr Victor Seastrom, Swedish Director at MGM Film industry marked another major event in Greta's acting career. The famous meeting, led to Greta's international success as Mr Mayer was convinced that he could make her a star, her unique looks, her magnetism and "her eyes, her eyes produced all the acting" thus Director Stiller along with Greta were invited to go to the United States of America for future film creations and contracts.
Upon the arrival to the USA, Garbo suffered in many different ways the said changes and faced enormous challenges as she did not speak English, was terrified with new environments, MGM ways of casting tests, managements, limited contracts even her request to urgently return to Sweden to attend her sister's funeral was refused.
In 1926, Greta was cast and acted in the Silent Film "Flesh and the Devil", there she met the leading actor John Gilbert for the first time, apparently they fell in love and "had an on and off screen" long lasting love secret relationship. The film Director Clarence Brown of said film, continued with Greta and made several films together, highlighting a different more sensual version of her on the big screen.
Some regarded Greta as beautiful, mysterious and unattachable due to her extreme decisions to keep her personal life exclusively private. It has been stated that perhaps she suffered from social anxiety, was comfortable to speak English to the public and or even MGM did not allow her to freely express herself. The more successful Greta became, the more she demanded her privacy, for instance just before filming she would arrange to get rid of any visitors, unnecessary actors or actresses, extras and even the Directors.
Most of her audience and fans became intrigued by her total beauty, her beautiful hazel light blue eyes along with her high cheekbones, how she captured her audience sometime just only from her eyes expressions. Greta found a way to express herself on the big screen however in real life she continued to isolate herself even more and only socialised with a selected few. Apparently, she really enjoyed painting, further learned and invested her personal funds by purchasing highly exclusive original paintings of which accumulated to a quite important collection.
Garbo became a great success in the Silent Film Industry however her other major challenge lay close ahead as it was the beginning of the Talkies Pictures. The majority of the audiences rejected the Silent Movies and only few actors and actresses had the opportunity to succeed the said changes and acceptance from the general public. Arrangements, quickly began for Garbo to have vocal lessons and her first Talking Picture "Anna Christie" in 1930, where she acted as a Swedish migrant. The film was an extraordinary success "Greta Talks" the advertisements released on the press, short film trailers and magazines. Other major international success followed like "Mata Hari" 1931, then "Grand Hotel" in 1932 where she acted as a Russian ballerina and the famous line of ..."I want to be alone, just want to be alone" was an international success, a line of which rested and marked her career and personal life ...
"The story of my life is about back entrances, side doors, secret elevators and other ways of getting in and out of places so that people won't bother me" Greta Garbo.
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***Firstly below, Greta Speaking Swedish, rare recording ...
*** Further Below, Film "Grad Hotel" , original advertisement
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