To follow up on my Harold Lloyd thread and further annoy the 95% of you who don’t have access to TCM, they are having a Greta Garbo festival this month. I’m planning to tape A Woman of Affairs, The Single Standard, Love, The Kiss, Wild Orchids and Mata Hari, if anyone wants to borrow them.
I actually prefer her silents, before MGM turned her into the Great Sufferer of Us All. She was more human in them, and I also adore John Gilbert and Lars Hanson, two of her silent-era leading men. Hubba-hubba!
You know, I don’t think I’ve actually seen a Greta Garbo movie! And of course I’m one of the 95% here that doesn’t get TCM (this month, on AMC, it’s Enemy Mine :eek: )
I’d love to borrow whichever you think is the One I Must See, Eve.
How about tape two, which will have The Kiss, Wild Orchids and Mata Hari on it, two silents and a talkie? Ask Ukulele Ike for my e-dress, and I’ll be happy to mail it off to you after I’ve watched it, sometime in July.
Just a small note - I looked at that website, clicked on “List of Films,” and almost dropped dead when I didn’t see Ninotchka (which I’ve never seen). But it seems that the “List of Films” is only complete through June 19, and Ninotchka is the opener on the 26th.
Eve, I must confess that like Ms. Cherry, I have never seen a Garbo movie, other than bits of Queen Christina. I’m sure a I must see Ninotchka, and Mata Hari sounds good, too. Anything else for your Must-See TV?
Add me to the list of people who’ve never seen a Garbo movie and don’t get TCM. I’m tempted to ask to be put on the pass-along tape list, but my schedule for the next few months is going to be so hectic that I’m afraid the tape would sit on my “watch one of these days” stack so long it would get sucked into the black hole along with everything else.
I will probably wind up with three or four tapes from this fest, with three movies apiece: early- mid- and late-Garbo. I’m loaning Ellen the one with The Kiss, Wild Orchids and Mata Hari on it, but if there’s any real interest, I’d be happy to set up a Garbo Lending Library, and we can all send the tapes winging around the U.S. this summer.
P.S. Goddam italics. Not enough coffee yet . . . Oh, I won’t bother taping her suckier movies, like The Torrent, The Painted Veil and Conquest. MGM did give her her share of stinkers . . .
Tangentially speaking, let me put in a plug for the Greta Garbo Murder Case by George Baxt. Its a witty romp through 40s Hollywood in which Garbo solves a murder and busts up a spy ring while filming a Joan of Arc movie for Erich von Stroheim. A cast of thousands and a bitchy crack from each.
LurkMeister, send me your address and I’ll send you Eve’s tape after I’ve watched it. Since I’ll have your email address then, I can hound you mercilessly until you’ve watched it!
Hmmm . . . I wasn’t going to tape Grand Hotel, as I’ve already seen it . . . But since I am doing this as a Doper Intro to Garbo, I think I will put the June 19 Queen Christina, Grand Hotel and Mata Hari on one tape as good mid-Garbo. On June 26 I can put Ninotchka, Camille and Anna Karenina on one tape, as good late-Garbo.
Anyone interested in tonight’s selection of early-Garbo, A Woman of Affairs, The Single Standard and Love?
Eve, I realize I’ve missed you for the day, but I hope you’ll see this tomorrow -
I didn’t make this clear before, but I also get TCM (yay, Time Warner!). So–assuming that I can figure out how to program my infernal VCR–I would be happy to assume some taping duties if it would help.
Oh, that’s sweet, Oxy—but it will really be no trouble to make the four tapes listed above. The problem will be arranging for people to circulate them!
I watched The Mysterious Lady last night—what a stinker! Her leading man, Conrad Nagel, had all the personality of a three-day-old fish. They kept bragging about “this is the world television premiere of this film,” which is banana oil—I saw it on UHF TV in Phila. back in the '70s.
Taped the other three, though, which are brilliant.
Tell us how to properly appreciate her movies, Eve. Sometimes older films can seem slow to modern eyes. What is so significant about Garbo? As I said, I’ve never seen her in a movie and my impressions are just from still photos and the famous “I vant to be left alone” statement.
Well, mostly, she’s gorgeous. In a sit-back-and-gaze-at-her kind of way. I’m taping the films that stand up on their own, though (even Garbo got handed some real stinkers by MGM). The ones I’m taping also have great MGM cinematography, some good cosratrs (John Gilbert, Ramon Novarro), dazzling Adrian costumes, as well.
She was a terrific tragic actress, had great “all the sufferings of the world” eyes, and her voice matched when talkies came in (had she sounded like Betty Boop, I think her career might have faltered!). Frankly, I prefer Dietrich—but I think every should have a good Garbo Backing if you’re going to pretend to be a Film Snob.
For those who have not seen a Greta Garbo movie, but would like to dip their toes in the water, may I recommend these to start off:
Grand Hotel (1932). Garbo is part of an all-star cast. This won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Camille (1937). Her best performance, as the courtesan who falls in love with a younger man.
Ninotchka (1939). Garbo plays a humorless Bolshevik who melts under the attentions of a bon vivant in Paris. One of only two comedies Garbo made.
