Everybody who knows Greta Garbo's biography is full aware of the fact that she hated any kind of publicity. She probably was the most consistent artist in that relation who had her own and firm conviction to reserve that personal right what to do and what not whenever she was off screen. The few and rare interviews speak for themselves, also any kind of public appearances. Greta had two different lifes, a private one and an artistic one, completely separated from each other, under all circumstances.

MGM was very disappointed and angry about that behavior but Garbo didn't care. No one could force her to do anything she disliked. Even regarding her own film premieres. Whereas all other Hollyswood stars loved to attend glamourous premiere celebrations, Garbo stayed away. Just a couple of exceptions are known.

When she started her European career she was willing to be present at the film premieres, in Stockholm and Berlin. Lateron, being a Hollywood star, she only attended a couple of premieres, the last one in 1927. Afterwards no one could retune her decision anymore. It is said that she even entered the cinema of a ceremonial premiere of one of her greatest movies, greeting her fans and admirers and vanishing again through the back door. Typcical Garbo. As always... very unique.....

Sweden premiere of Luffar-Petter (December, 1922)

On December 26, the belated premiere of Luffar-Petter was staged at the Odéon Teatern in Stockholm. Greta quietly attended the film's premiere with schoolmates Mimi Pollak and Alf Sjöberg.

Sweden premiere of Gösta Berlings saga (March, 1924)

Gösta Berlings saga Part I debuted on March 10, 1924, at the Röda Kvarn Theatre in Stockholm and Part II opened one week later.

Garbo and Stiller attended both premieres.

German premiere of Gösta Berlings saga (August, 1924)

Gösta Berlings saga premiered on August 20 at the Mozartsaal Theatre in Berlin/Germany. Garbo, Stiller and Gerda Lundeqvist attended the German premiere.

American premiere of The Torrent (February, 1926)

The Torrent opened simultaneously in New York and Los Angeles on February 21, 1926.

Greta attended the L.A. premiere at the Loew's State Theatre downtown and was introduced to the audience by actor Conrad Nagel.

American premiere of Flesh and the Devil (February, 1926)

The “premier de Luxe” of Flesh and the Devil, which took place on February 3 in Hollywood, was also an occasion of reconciliation. After weeks of speculation about whether or not Gilbert and Garbo were still a team offscreen, the couple arrived at the gala opening together.

Jack, having recovered from a recent automobile accident, flashed huge smiles for the newspaper and newsreel cameras as he put his arm protectively around Greta and entered the Forum Theatre; Garbo looked rapturous.

After the show, they took their bows from the stage and were greeted with a tremendous ovation.

An old and legendary rumor is that filmed footage from this premiere was used for James Cruze's 1929 MGM film A Man's Man. This is not true.

American premiere of King Vidor film Bardelys the Magnificent (September, 1926)

On September 30, 1926, Greta Garbo attended the premiere of the King Vidor film Bardelys the Magnificent with (from left) Howard Strickling, Norma Shearer, Irving Thalberg, and John Gilbert. Clinging to Gilbert's arm, Garbo smiled broadly for the cameras and posed with studio boss Irving Thalberg and his date, Norma Shearer, as well as the newlyweds Vidor and Board, man before going inside the Carthay Circle Theatre. This was the last movie premiere Garbo attended.

It was early 1927, shortly after the filming of Flesh and the Devil had wrapped up, and Louis B Mayer wanted to get Garbo back to work quickly; she was fast becoming a star. Garbo, however, wanted a rest as well as a chance to look for a better part to play than the usual femme fatale roles she seemed to be getting. Garbo's answer! she would feign illness, and then pull this stunt: (in the words of film historian Cari Beauchamp) she 'danced under Mayer's nose' flouting her increasingly sought-after presence at an important premiere.

Garbo, with the aid of Gilbert, was not only gaining power over movie audiences, but over her boss. Here she was, on the arm of the most famous man in America, in a film that many of those in the know could see would bring in considerable  profits to the company, and attending a high-profile movie premiere when she was supposed to be 'exhausted'.

If Mayer wanted her in his films, he would have to bow to some of her demands; something that always made him angry. BUT, if this was Garbo and Gilbert's way of sticking it to Mayer, then why was Thalberg there? What was his role in this power play?. Thalberg was certainly no fool, perhaps this was his way of keeping the situation in hand? The second reason this event is interesting is because also in attendance was King Vidor and Eleanor Boardman - the other couple who were supposed to have taken part in that famous, ill-fated double wedding later in the same year when G never showed up.

This was when Mayer made the infamous remark about G and a distraught Gilbert punched him in the face - sealing his tragic fate).

Was Garbo at the American premiere of Camille?

A rumor was that At Louis B. Mayer's insistence, Greta reluctantly agreed to attend the Hollywood  premiere of Camille, on December 12, 1936 at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs. She wore pajamas under a fur coat. She waved to her fans, walked  through the front door, and out the back without bothering to watch the film.