Often Garbo's high-handedness was not only rude but also cruel. In one instance she managed to hurt Marion Davies's feelings, an almost impossible feat.
Both actresses were filming on the same sound stage. Garbo was sealed off with the usual canvas. Marion 's was open, almost festive with a high English tea served during the breaks.
Marion was in the middle of a line when she saw the curtains part. Garbo sauntered in, sat in Marion 's own chair, and watched for about half an hour. Marion was delighted, flattered.
Marion then asks her director, “Have you got a scene you can do without me? I'd like to go over and repay the compliment.” “I'll give you five minutes,” he said.
Marion found her way though the sealed entrance to the Garbo set and watched while Fred Niblo guided the actress through a scene. Greta raised her hand, bolted upright, and shouted, “Stop the camera. Who's there?”
Niblo snapped at Marion to leave. “You know Miss Garbo allows nobody on her sets.” Marion answered, "I know, but Miss Garbo came on my set, and I thought I'd repay the compliment.”
Marion used her considerable social graces to maneuver Greta into a friendlier mood, bantering with the actress as hairdressers worked with her hair. “Oh, why don't you go back to your own set where you belong,” Greta replied. With the slight stutter she always developed when she was nervous, Marion answered, “Well, I thought I'd like to come over and see you. I understand you're quite a wonderful actress. You were kind enough to come to my set. I just thought I'd repay the compliment.” Greta sneered back at her.
"You're very funny. You make me laugh. I didn't come over to see you- I came over to see a really great actress, Jetta Goudal". Tears formed in Marion 's eyes. This only fanned Greta's peevishness.
“They're calling you on your set.” Marion replied, “I didn't hear any call.”
Garbo's face reddened and her tone turned nasty. “You're wasting my time. Get off before I have to kick you off. I won't act. I don't like anybody watching me.”
“Well, that goes both ways,” Marion answered. “Don't you come to my set either” Greta laughed scornfully. “To me… you're null and void.”
Marion forgot the incident. But Louella Parsons, who knew about it, complained to Mayer at a party that evening.
Mayer drifted over to Marion. “I wouldn't let anything that slut said bother me if I were you.”
“Mr. Mayer, how can you say something like that. That's horrible.” “I don't think so,” Mayer answered. “What else would you call a woman who used to sleep with Stiller, Jack Gilbert, and Lord knows who else.”
Although Greta Garbo's friends defend her as merely slightly cranky, incidents like the Marion Davies experience abound. And her solitary nature concealed what might have been a more objective view.
Marion Davies later said in a reception she held, (that Garbo attends with Gilbert) “I never saw anyone so peculiar or so shy, and that's saying a lot for this town.” (Hollywood).
Expert taken from Pamela Ann Brown The MGM Girls.
