GARBO NEWS

February 15, 2022

Women & Cocaine Presents Greta Garbo in
SUSAN LENOX: HER FALL AND RISE 1931

On February, 19 is an event in London ....

This February join us as we immerse you in the pre code era and celebrate the Divine Garbo, a woman who's portrayal of Love and sacrifice makes every other human emotion or endeavour seem trivial.

We will be showing her rarely screened pre code classic SUSAN LENOX: HER FALL AND RISE, her only film with Clark Gable. It was banned upon its release by the British censors and had to be heavily cut.

More info

Women & Cocaine Presents

July 10, 2017

Niece, heiress to Greta Garbo fortune dies at 85

Gray Gustafson Reisfield, the sole heiress to her aunt Greta Garbo’s estate and a woman who was a long-time companion to the late Swedish-born actress, has died, a family member said Monday. Reisfield died Sunday at her home in Marin County, California, following a bout with pneumonia, said her son Derek Reisfield. She was 85.

She is survived by her three sons and a daughter, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

More info

MY McMURRAY · PENTICTON HERALD

April 26, 2017

Greta Garbo’s Longtime Manhattan Co-op Finds Cash-Rich Buyer

Silver-screen legend Greta Garbo’s longtime Manhattan apartment has been snapped up just over a month after it hit the market.
The three-bedroom co-op apartment on the fifth floor of the posh 16-story Campanile building next to the East River, asking $5.95 million, was her home for 40 years.
According to the listing, the notoriously private Swedish-born actress was drawn to the sprawling 2,855 square-foot apartment partly because the passing boats reminded her of her native Stockholm.

Greta Garbo's longtime Manhattan apartment.
© Halstead

The apartment has entered contract and the final sales price will not be made public until the sale has closed, but the buyer needs to be cash rich as the Campanile does not accept financing. The listing agent, Halstead Property, did not respond immediately to request for comment.

More info

WWD.COM

April 1, 2017

Julien's Auctions - Joseff of Hollywood: Treasures from the Vault

Julien's Auctions proudly presents Joseff of Hollywood: Treasures from the Vault, master jeweler to the stars, an exquisite collection of over 600 unique pieces of costume jewelry and accessories, film and red carpet worn by Hollywood's most glamourous stars of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Eugene Joseff was the custom designer on over 1000 films before his untimely death in 1948. Upon Eugene Joseff's passing, his wife J.C. continued the company's relationship with Hollywood by serving as costume jeweler on over 450 films until 2006.

© Julien's Auctions

This collection encompasses exquisitely crafted pieces worn by Hollywood's most legendary stars in some of the most iconic films of Hollywood's Golden era. A small sampling of highlights from the Property from the Collection of Joseff of Hollywood include a brooch worn by Marlene Dietrich in Shanghai Express (1932), a pair of earrings and ornaments worn by Greta Garbo in Camille (1936), a necklace worn by Vivien Leigh and a cigar case used by Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind (1939); a pair of earrings worn by Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and a pair of earrings worn by Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot (1959).

© Julien's Auctions

Additional highlights include order chains worn by Katharine Hepburn in Mary of Scotland (1936), a necklace worn by Tallulah Bankhead in A Royal Scandal (1945), a necklace worn by Judy Garland in Ziegfeld Follies (1946), a belt and pair of earrings worn by Rita Hayworth in Salome (1953), a brooch worn by Lana Turner and a medallion worn by Vincent Price in The Three Musketeers (1948).

More info

Live and Online Auction  ·  Public Exhibitions

April 1, 2017

Grandnephews of Greta Garbo in nasty legal feud over her Oscar

The actress, who has been dead for 27 years, is at the center of a contentious lawsuit between two prominent Bay Area brothers — the great-nephews of the leading lady — over the whereabouts of her Oscar statuette.

A judge has scheduled a hearing on the brothers’ dispute for April 17 in San Rafael.

More info

San Francisco Chronicle

March 28, 2017

Christie’s Auction on May 15 – Impressionist and Modern

Three paintings from the Garbo-Collection will be part of the auction at Christie’s May 15 Impressionist and Modern evening sale.

Chaïm Soutine’s, Femme à la poupée, 1923 to 1924,
© Christie’s Images Ltd. 2017


Alexej von Jawlensky’s, Das blasse Mädchen mit grauen Zöpfen, 1916,
© Christie’s Images Ltd. 2017


Robert Delaunay’s, La femme à l’ombrelle ou La Parisienne, 1913,
© Christie’s Images Ltd. 2017

More info

CURBED New York · VOGUE

Thanks to Bea

March 24, 2017

Garbo's apartment is for sale

The apartment of the Garbo with view over the East River in Manhattan is for about 6 million dollars for sale. From 1954 until her death she lived there and then inherited it to her niece Gray Reisfield.

More info

Daily Mail   ·   Observer   ·   The Sun   ·   New York Times   ·   Handelsblatt

Thanks to RubyRed and Frank

June 23, 2016

Fotografiska Exhibition – The Image of Garbo

Fotografiska is proud to present arguably the world's largest private collection of uni-que Greta Garbo photographs and memorabilia, garnered during the course of 20 years by advertising executive Lars Nordin.

Between 23 June and 21 August, Fotografiska's large ground-floor F1 gallery will house the exhibition The Image of Garbo comprising photographs of Greta Garbo from different stages of her life and career. Studio photos in silver gelatin, private images or press visuals in which she poses with the great celebrities of the time, as well as numerous other exciting photographs of Sweden's most famous movie star. In addition, a selection of moving images will be screened.

More info

Fotografiska

July 06, 2016

The Statue of Integrity – In Memory of Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo is one of the greatest icons of the screen and one of the greatest Hollywood stars of all time. She was as well-known for her beauty as for her secretive and reclusive life. In conjunction with the exhibition The Image of Garbo at Fotografiska, we want to honor Greta Garbo by erecting a statue, created by Icelandic artist Jón Leifsson, dedicated to her memory.

© Fotografiska

More info

Fotografiska  ·  Aftonbladet

September 06, 2016

Greta Garbo Exhibition at Pera Palace

Greta Garbo first came to Istanbul in 1924 for the shooting of the film, "The Odalisk from Smolensk" and stayed at Pera Palace for 50 days.
The exhibition titled, "Greta Garbo comes back to Pera Palace 92 years later" will feature a display of original materials from the Swedish-born American actresses career, including periodicals, philatelic materials, books, postcards, posters and LPs.

More info

Daily Sabah

December 10, 2015

The keys to Greta Garbo's NYC spread have hit the auction block

For nearly four decades legendary actress Greta Garbo lived a secluded, solitary life away from predatory shutterbugs and Hollywood glitz in a fifth-floor apartment overlooking the East River on 52nd Street. Now, the keys to the apartment have hit the auction block.

Labeled "Miss GG 5th Floor," the keys were expected to bring in between $10,000 and $15,000, according to Elle Décor. However, the current bid is $6,599 and bidding appears to be closed. Looks like someone got a deal.

The RR Auction sale also included a mink coat that belonged to Garbo. That was expected to sell for over $40,000, but it looks like the last bid was just $25,000.

More info

LLNYC  ·  ELLE DECOR

Thanks to Frank

November 27, 2014

New book: Hollywood in the 30s

Hollywood in the 30s is a coffee-table book whose beautifully-presented written content and visuals are an all-round success.

Original released (with Marlene on the front) in Germany 2011, the English version features none other than our GG on the cover:

Premise: lllustrator Robert Nippoldt and film critic Daniel Kothenschulte team up to pay homage to the golden era of Tinseltown, when silent films became talking pictures, stars got even more glamorous, directors more megalomaniac, and politicians and the mob hankered after just one piece of the dazzling action.

 

More info  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

November 25, 2014

More info on Garbo’s Soap Advertisement ads from 1924

In early 1924, Greta's and Alva's photographs appeared in an Advertisement for YvY Soap. The pictures appeared in a 1924 Film magazine – Filmnyheter (Film News).

 

As we suppose not all of your visitors are speaking Swedish, here is the English translation.

Here are the English translations from the adverts:

GRETA GARBO is a woman of real Nordic beauty. Only the best cosmetics, the YvY soap, shall be used, when it comes to protecting a sensitive skin in the cold climate of ours.

Use the YvY-soap daily, and You will be pleased. The YvY soap is the best! The YvY is on sale in the whole country!"

ALVA GARBO is one of Swedish movies' new additions for the season. We will see her in Elis Ellis yet unnamed gustavian film. She is yet an unwritten page as a film actress, but has her sister's charm and beauty.

Female beauty is something that every woman must care for in the most considerate. The best cosmetics is the YvY soap for daily use. Ther YvY soap is the best! The YvY soap is the cheapest! Use the YvY soap and You will be pleased!" 

More info  HERE!

Thanks to Anna from Sweden

November 6, 2014

New romantic suspense novel on Garbo and set in WWII

Garbo's Last Stand is the title, written by Jon James Miller. This ‘romantic suspense’ will be published by Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC, on February 14, 2015.

Plot:
James Main is stuck making cable documentaries in LA when he places an ad looking for anyone (still above ground) who knew glamorous movie goddess, Greta Garbo. Delighted when salty, old tabloid reporter, Seth Moseley replies with the promise of an untold story of why the reclusive star left Hollywood at the height of her power and fame, but James may find more than he bargained for when he started this adventure.

Dying of emphysema, Seth recalls when he was a cut-throat paparazzo who stows away aboard the S.S. Athenia, intent on capturing a candid photo of Garbo to pay off some gambling debts. Instead, the newshound falls head over heels in love when he comes face to face with the enigmatic star. But it's not that easy, Garbo is on a secret mission.

They discover reality isn't a movie when war unexpectedly breaks out in Europe. Garbo is alone. All except for Seth the lovesick reporter, who's young and cocky enough to believe he can single-handedly save the enigmatic actress from an open sea swarming with Nazis. Will he succeed or will he lose it all?  

More info  HERE!

Thanks to Jon J. Miller

November 1, 2014

Garbo Score section updated!

Gösta Berling saga – Original 1924 score:
When the first part of the film firstly was screened at the Röda Kvarn cinema in Stockholm on March 10, 1924, following pieces were played:

  1.  "Värmlandsvisan", (arr, Westberg)
  2.  "Allegro Vivace nr. 1", (Langey)
  3.  a piece from "Herr Arnes Pengar"
  4.  a piece from "Episod", (Alexandersson)
  5.  a piece from "Svit nr. 3", (Mussorgskij)
  6.  "Bellmanssång", (Järnefelt)
  7.  "Den eldröda blomman", (Järnefelt)
  8.  "Adagio Pathétique", (Godard)
  9.  a piece from "Svansjön" ("Swan Lake")
10.  "Symfony Pathétique No. 6", (Tchaikovsky)
11.  "Romeo and Juliet", (Tchaikovsky)
12.  a piece from "Rigadon de Dardanus", (Rameau)
13.  "Meditation", (Borch)
14.  "Prelude", (Järnefelt)
15.  "Dramatic Tension", (Audino)
16.  a piece from "Masquerade nr 1; 3;", (Lacome)
17.  "Contredance", (Beethoven)
18.  a piece from "Symphony No. 40", (Mozart)
19.  "Entr'acte", (Annat-Avelz)
20.  "La Furlana", (Roberts)
21.  "Spanish Dance", (Reheld)
22.  a piece from "Suite Espagnole no. 2", (Aceyes)
23.  "Rabnabryllaup uti Kraakjalund", (Johan Halvorsen)


Restored 1975 version:
When the movie was restored remastered in 1975 they got a piano soundtrack composed by the Swedish musicians Carl Axel and Monica Dominique.

Restored 2005 version
In 2005 the film got a new soundtrack composed by Matti Bye, which followed in the DVD version from 2006.

See more  HERE!

Thanks to Anna from Sweden

October 20, 2014

Joyless Street screening in Germany!

October 31, 2014 in the Filmmuseum in Frankfurt/Germany

Original Press release in German: Frauenreferat zeigt Stummfilmklassiker 'Die freudlose Gasse'

Zum Abschluss der Filmreihe zur Kampagne „Armut ist eine Frau“ lädt das städtische Frauenreferat am Samstag, 31.Oktober, um 17.30 Uhr in das Filmmuseum ein. Gezeigt wird der restaurierte Stummfilmklassiker „Die freudlose Gasse“ von Georg Wilhelm Pabst mit Asta Nielsen und Greta Garbo. Er behandelt das Schicksal von vier Frauen in der Wirtschaftskrise der 1920er Jahre in Wien. Die renommierte Künstlerin Maud Nelissen begleitet den Film auf dem Klavier.

Nach dem Film lädt das Frauenreferat zu Gesprächen und Snacks ein. Der Eintritt ist frei. Die Veranstaltung findet in Kooperation mit der Kinothek Asta Nielsen und dem Deutschen Filmmuseum Frankfurt statt.

More  HERE!

October 16, 2014

New Italien book!

Al Cinema con Greta is the title and it is said that it will be released this year further infos are hard to find.

More info  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

October 3, 2014

Garbo tribute at Film Råsunda in Sweden

A nice tribute on GG (Storytelling: Greta Garbo: From Gustafsson to Garbo) will be held at the Swedish Filmuseum/Film City in Råsunda.They explore the roles and her career.

  
From Gustafsson to Garbo

Info & reservations: info@filmstadenskultur.se.
October 15
6:00 p.m. to 20:00
Portvaktsstugan, Film Råsunda

More info  HERE!

October 1, 2014

Truman Capote on Garbo

The 1998 released Capote book (Truman Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors Recall His Turbulent) by George Plimptonon has been released in Germany.

Photo: Amazon.de

It was released this summer in Germany as a Kindle Edition. It is called: Truman Capotes turbulentes Leben: Kolportiert von Freunden, Feinden, Bewunderern und Konkurrenten. Included inis an interesting part on GG and Capote.

Capote was a friend of Beaton and he said that he met GG several times. In the early 1960s, Garbo wrote to Beaton (as quoted in Hugo Vickers's biography of Beaton): “Truman Capote isn't first-class, believe me. He wouldn't say the things he does if he were and he's so outrageous, such silly behaviour. He's not a person in the round ...“

Get it  HERE!

October 1, 2014

Opening Reception for Vieira’s
George Hurrell and the Golden Age of Hollywood Glamour in LA

Hosted by Vieria himself on October 9.
Of course with lots of information on GG and her two Hurrell sessions.

Description:
Please join Dean Catherine Quinlan and the Friends of the USC Libraries for a discussion on "George Hurrell and the Golden Age of Hollywood Glamour," followed by the opening reception for the exhibition in Doheny Memorial Library.

Hurrell by Vieira

In conversation will be USC University Professor Leo Braudy, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and historian and photographer Mark A. Vieira. Vieira worked alongside Hurrell and continues to practice the techniques that made Hurrell such a sought-after photographer among the celebrity elite.

A selection of prints from Vieira’s book—"George Hurrell’s Hollywood: Glamour Portraits 1925–1992"—will be on view through December 19, 2014.

More Info  HERE!

Garbo and Hurrell:
George Hurrell was an American photographer born in 1904. One of Hurrell's first subjects were Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer. MGM producer Thalberg was so impressed with Hurrell's work that he was hired as head of the MGM portrait gallery in 1930. For the next two years, Hurrell photographed every star at MGM, from Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Garbo.

GG by Hurrell

His work set a new standard for Hollywood portraits. It even inspired a new name for the genre – glamour photography. George Hurrell photographed Garbo on the set of Romance as well as in the portrait gallery but it is said that Garbo didn't like Hurrell and refused to work with him again on Grand Hotel.

More on G and Hurrell  HERE!

September 30, 2014

New Garbo musical in Hollywood

This must be the ’50th’ musical/stage play about our Miss G. at the Teatro de la O, Hollywood, California between September 13 to October 13.

  
Copyright by teatrodelao

Hollywood Party is a big night of Silver Screen Stars and Garbo is the guest of honor.

More info  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

September 27, 2014

Garbo’s grandniece Gray Horan checks out
Hollywood glamour on exhibit at MFA

Gray paid a visit to the MFA last week to check out the iconic Inspiration gown worn by GG. The dress, designed by Gilbert Adrian, is one of many worn by the likes of Gloria Swanson, Mae West, and Joan Crawford that are part of Hollywood Glamour: Fashion and Jewelry From the Silver Screen, on view at the museum until March 8.

Photo: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Horan toured the show with Michelle Finamore (near left), the MFA’s Penny Vinik Curator of Fashion Arts.

Red original article  HERE!

September 22, 2014

New Auction by Profiles in History incl. rare Garbo portrait

Profiles in History are having a pretty big Hollywood auction and there's a bit of Greta items. A lot of original photographs, some we don't recall seeing before and a dress worn by an extra in the ballroom scene in Conquest.

unreleased Ruth. H. Louise portrait

Go  HERE!

Thanks to Audrey

September 22, 2014

Sweden shows off Garbo banknote

Sweden's Riksbank on Tuesday released the long-awaited designs of new banknotes featuring the likes of Greta Garbo, Ingmar Bergman, Astrid Lindgren, and other cultural giants of the 20th century. The notes were designed by Göran Österlund. Coming in 2015.

Photo: Riksbank

More info  HERE!

Thanks to Brian

September 18, 2014

Fan questions and answers by Scott Reisfield
(Exclusively for GarboForever)

In 2011 we made contact with Garbo’s grand-nephew and to our great joy we learned that the family knows our website and that he personally enjoys it very much. In early August he indicated that he would be willing to answer fan-questions, if posed to him.

We collected questions during August from fans (our board members + E-mail contacts) and submitted them to him, which he answered in a refreshingly open and direct way!

He talks about a new book, why she lived in NY instead of Sweden, about his parents, Sam Green, on keeping GGs memory alive, about fan mail letters, the uncensored version of Mata Hari, and much more.

We still think that is just a dream but you can really read our questions and his answers HERE!

Thanks to Patrick, Nici, Mark A. Vieira, Werner and Anna and all fans on the forum, our friend at
Tumblr, YouTube and Facebook. Thank you all for support and to keeping your fingers crossed.

September 18, 2014

Happy Birthday GG!

Greta 9 years old

One Hundred and nine years ago....
On September 18, a Monday evening at 7:30 PM in Stockholm/Sweden, Greta Lovisa Gustafsson was born at the Södra Maternity Hospital. Baby Greta was 52 centimeters long and weighted 3.5 kilograms. Our divine woman would have turned 109 years old today.

Visit Garbo at Find-a-Grave.com and leave some words or flowers!

Go  HERE!

September 15, 2014

That Marlene/Garbo 'Love Letter' gossip on Tumblr

Some fans think that certain ‘love’ letters, Marlene allegedly wrote one day, were written for Garbo. This rumor started on Tumblr some time ago  and it is still hot topic in certain ‘fan circles’.  We got quite some Emails regarding this were people asked for further info and what we think about it.

So, we had a look deeper into this ‘fan-tasy’.

MD/GG ‘Fan-tasy’, Copyright by RubyRed

This or these fan(s) spread the rumor that this letter was shown in 2002, at the Berlin Gay Museum (Schwules Museum in Berlin).

In 2002 they, commemorated Marlene's 100th birthday. The Exhibition was called Marlene und das Dritte Geschlecht: Hommage zu Marlene Dietrichs 100. Geburtstag. It featured photographs, letters, costumes, and numerous objects from the Dietrich Estate, but there was no sign about such ‘mysterious’ letters.

This is a part of the letter which is circulating in the web!

"I wish I could be for you the best of women. I would heal those wounds that I’ve done to you before. I wish you loved me enough to not care if I call you Liebchen in front of everyone. I would like to fight nature and scream to the world that you’re mine. I wish some day they know that my flesh only trembles with your touch.” "Some people call love like a curse, others like a simple thief, but what can I do if you, Liebchen, you are my home? I’m looking at this picture in my hand and trying to understand what gone wrong if our love was so strong? You and I forever, that’s the way that should be, don’t you see it?” "I am so lucky, so famous, so then, why I had to cry every night? If I don’t need anything else. Why come this tears to me? Are you happy? Are you happy without me?” "Your silence makes you cold, and I just want to break the ice in you. Emptiness, more silence and the feeling of wanting to be everything. And I know that I´ll never close it because you´ve never said  Auf Wiedersehen and you never will."

We talked with many Garbo fans about it and we really doubt that MD wrote GG such a letter. It’s pure nonsense.  There is even no proof that those words were written by MD. We contacted marlene4ever.com, and they think the same. “This all is just wishful thinking by some fans. There is no evidence and it looks like pure fabrication”, Lothar the webmaster told us.

Neither they nor someone else ever saw THE ORGINAL scan of this rumoured letter.

Furthermore, we wrote the Berlin Gay Museum and asked about such letters. Dr. Jens Dobler from the Museum said: “We do not own such a letter!” They never even heard from it.

So, end of this nonsene.

MD/GG ‘Fan-tasy’, Copyright by RubyRed

More on MD and GG  HERE  and have a look at Marlene4ever.com  HERE!

Thanks to Anna, Nici, Fabbi, Lothar, Evelyn

September 12, 2014

Garbo and the Death Mask of F.W. Murnau

Friedrich Wilhelm "F. W." Murnau (1888-1931) was one of the most influential German film directors of the silent era and a prominent figure in the expressionist movement in German cinema during the 1920s.

Garbo and Murnau were friends and after he died in 1932, she commissioned a death mask of him, which she kept on her desk during her years in Hollywood (not for her whole life, as many may think). Decades later, Garbo gave the Mask to Murnau’s family.

Garbo and the Death Mask (photomontage)

Read all about it  HERE!

Thanks to Frank

September 11, 2014

'Cecil Beaton at HOME' exhibition goes to Colefax & Fowler in London

The show will be at Colefax & Fowler from 17 Nov- 5 Dec 2014, but in a much reduced format. Yet, still it is worth to see this superb exhibition curated by Beaudesert's Andrew Ginger.

Picture from the Exhibition. Copyright by: Beaudesert.co.uk

Rodger from Beaudeset told us that they are working on getting a NYC date and venue!

Cecil Beaton At Home - Reviews

More info  HERE!

Thanks to Rodger

September 10, 2014

Noël Coward and Garbo

Noël Coward (1899 –1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance style.

Garbo and Coward met during the years on several occasions. He was also a friend of George Schlee (Garbo’s friend/partner) and often visited his parties. He attended Schlee’s funeral in 1964.


An interesting meeting in Klosters, 1964
Garbo spend the summer of 1964 again in Europe. She met actor Brian Aherne and they became friends. Aherme was married to Eleonore de Liagre and lived in Vevey, Switzerland. They visited Garbo from time to time. In July 1964, they took her to supper with Noël, who saw them again a few days later at the Geneva airport.

Geoffrey Johnson, a friend of Noël, reflected on his friendship with him in an address to the NCS Oxford Conference in September 2006. He was Noël's American Representative for many years and recounts their first meeting by way of introduction. He also Johnson, also told the story how he arrives in Geneva (Switzerland) Airport.  Have a look to the Video we made!

Audio courtesy by noelcoward.net

Read all about it  HERE!

Thanks to Anna and Patrick, and noelcoward.net

September 10, 2014

All about the ‘Gar-Toons’

Garbo cartoons are funny – they are persiflages of certain peculiarities she had or special quotations she was known for...just think of her I want to be alone. Miss Garbo was featured in many Warner Brothers and Disney cartoons of the 1930s and 1940s. The Garbo Cartoons section we made, catalogue these animated Garbo appearances.

Garbo in Mickey's Gala Premier (USA, 1933)

The section was created with the help of Quote Unquote Sir.
Have a look. It’s an interesting and funny piece of work.

See the section  HERE!

Thanks to Fletcher

September 5, 2014

Another Julian’s Auction with property from Garbo’s estate

The American auction house will again offer many personal Garbo items in their Julien's 90210 Exclusive Fall Online Entertainment Auction 2014. Starts Sept. 5 and ends Sept. 22, 2014. They will auction some personal clothing and some Hollywood glamour portraits.

   
Examples from the portraits

This is the fourth Julian’s Auction with Garbo proberty from her estate:

1.  Greta Garbo Auction (December, 2012)
2.  Hollywood Legends Auction (April, 2013)
3.  Online Live Auction: Property From the Estate of Greta Garbo (April, 2014)
4.  Julien's 90210 Exclusive Fall Online Entertainment Auction (September, 2014)

More info  HERE!

September 5, 2014

All about Garbo’s 'I want to be alone' quote

GGs by famous Bull portrait on a postcard

Garbo's most famous quote or line was ”I want to be alone”. She is very closely associated with this line from Grand Hotel, one which the American Film Institute in 2005 voted the 30th most memorable movie quote of all time.

It all started with Grand Hotel in 1932. This is the film in which she famously said, “I want to be alone” and followed it immediately with “I just want to be alone.” Garbo seemed to enjoy this gentle self-mockery and so did the press and MGM.

We made a new section all about this famous line. Go  HERE!

Thanks to Fletcher and Frank

September 3, 2014

TCM in Canada screens Garbo films on her birthday

On September 18, they will screen:

Love  at 10:30 AM
The Single Standard at 12:00 PM
Wild Orchid at 1:15 PM
Greta Garbo: The Temptress, The Clown (Swedish Documentary)
at 3:00 PM (Part 1) and 4:15 PM (Part 2)

More info  HERE!

Thanks to Fletcher

September 3, 2014

Info about the ‘new’ found The Divine Woman ‘Kiss’ fragment

As you may have read in our NEWS some years ago, a rare fragment of ‘KISS’ scene (between GG and Hanson) was screened in Italy at the The Pordenone Silent Film Festival  in October, 2011.

Well, it always made us wonder when they (reporters and promoters from this Festival) said that it was ‘newly found’. We saw a little picture from the fragment and for us it was clear: NOT NEW!

This very short fragment was already used in a Swedish Garbo documentary from the mid-1980s. Another source said (see also IMDB) that in facts two ‘new’ fragments were found in 2011.

Anyway, to clear it up we wrote the Swedish Filminstitute (Svenska Filminstitutet) and they told us that this is not true.

They have two fragments!

1. One is a nitrate fragment discovered at the Gosfilmofond in Moscow in the mid 90’s (we all know
     this 9-minute segment),
2. and the second one stemming from a Swedish news-reel (it is indeed the ‘Kiss’ scene which
     was also used in the documentary film).

The last time they screened these two fragments was on Octobers 27th in Sweden.

 Some caps from the scene

More info  HERE!

Thanks to Jon

September 2, 2014

A book about Garbo's brother Sven Gustafson?

We were all quite shocked when we heard this 'News'. The title: Sven Gustafson: Colorist provides.

It was released in March, 2014 and edited by GG's grand-nephew Derek Reisfield and is the first comprehensive look at the work of the artwork of Sven Gustafson (1898-1967).

GG and Sven, Sweden 1932

This richly illustrated book provides a broad survey of the artist's work from every period of his artistic production. Sven Gustafson's paintings are driven by color.

There is also a biographical essay and appreciation by Derek Reisfield, his grandson. Reisfield provides an inside look at Sven Gustafson's life, artistic achievements, as well as his close relationship with Garbo.

More info  HERE!

This book contains many never before seen paintings, most notably an oil portrait of Garbo and a watercolor study for the Garbo portrait. It also includes many works from the collection of the legendary actress. It also contains a special surprise, a painting by Garbo never before seen by the public.

Sven, 1930

More info on Sven  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

September 1, 2014

Mata Hari: Uncensored version found in Venezuela?

Today we have gotten an article from Venezuela. They have found a 35mm copy of Mata Hari, while modernize a cinema in Caracas (called Cine Urdaneta), in 2013.

Fundación Villa del Cine, a government-funded Venezuelan film and TV studio, restored the film and will present it this year.

Could this be the uncensored version we all are waiting for?

Read all  HERE!

The Uncensored Version does contain the following scenes and takes

The Mata Hari Dance Scene
The Mata Hari's dance scene at the beginning is much longer. The original dance scene goes on and on. Most revealing as Garbo continues in a frenetic dance to approach the statue of Shiva. She does is in such a suggestive way, that she seems to imply that she actually makes love with it. In the last shot she takes the top off and we see her from behind - totally nude.

The most revealing Negligee Scene
In this version we see the scene where Garbo goes into her bedroom. After closing a satin curtain and then changes into a most revealing negligee. Novarro left behind and hesitate and then we see that wonderful close up of Garbo with the orchids. Then she emerges to initiate a wonderful love scene.

The Madonna Light Scene
Another scene included, follows after the scene where Garbo tells Novarro to put off the candle on the Madonna icon and Novarro obeys. After the light goes out, there is a fade out in the cencored version. In this one, there is much more. We see a wonderful close up of Garbo, the two lovers embrace. Novarro micks her up in his arms and carries her to his room.

Read more  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

August 31, 2014

New Garbo Radio Documentary on Sky Arts 2 HD

It is a look at her career and part of a series about legendary actors.

Discovering Film: Season 2, Episode 2. Greta Garbo

Sky Arts 2 HD
7:00pm-8:00pm (1 hour )
Monday, Sep. 1, 2014

Read more  HERE!

Thanks to Isabel and Shane

August 30, 2014

Garbo's Immigration & Naturalization Papers

You have $ 10,000 ?

 

New on Ebay.com is GG's Original U.S. immigration and naturalization document thrice-signed by Greta.

Link to auction  HERE!

August 29, 2014

Garbo and Ingrid Bergman

Bergman said that GG was the most beautiful woman and that her performances were absolutely wonderful. When Ingrid first came to Hollywood in 1939, Bergman sent her flowers as a gesture of respect. Bergman thought that Garbo did not want to meet her. She declared in her memoirs that she thought that Garbo may think that she was there to compete with her.

What really happened between Sweden’s two greatest female stars? And when did they come together socially? They had, in fact, met and spoken, but only once, long after Garbo had ended her film career.

Read all  HERE!

August 29, 2014

New Book on Garbo and Stiller’s planned 1924 German feature film:
Odaliske von Smolny

The Film

In early 1924, director and Garbo mentor Mauritz Stiller had big succcess of Gösta Berling Saga. Shortly after, he got an offering from a German film company at this time – Trianon A.G. In spring 1924 he signed a his first contract with them.

Stiller already had a the right story in mind. With his Gösta Berling Saga team, he wanted to make a film version of the novel, Odalisken från Smolna. In Winter 1924, production started in Istanbul (Turkey) with Greta Garbo in female leading role. Einar Hansson was signed to be her film-lover and Conrad Veidt as the film-villain.

But the German film Company had financial problems and a huge scandal (Trianon A.G. was sued) had  surrounded the production in January 1925 and the project was stopped.

GG in Turkey
 

The Book

Writer Patrick Vonderau worked on the fantastic book Bilder vom Norden. Schwedisch-deutsche Filmbeziehungen 1914-1939 (Germany 2006). There are great details about the production in his book.

He told us, that he and his partner Bo Florin are working on something new. They (?) have found the original ODALISKE screenplay and will turn this into a book. They will write about the production and the many changes and re-writes of the screenplay by Stiller.

He hopes that the book will be out in 2015. Svensk Filmindustrie is supporting this work and it will be translated into English.

More about the cancelled movie  HERE!

August 17, 2014

Hugo Vickers Answers our ‘Fan’ Questions!

Writer and broadcaster Hugo Vickers (Loving Garbo: The Story of Greta Garbo, Cecil Beaton and Mercedes de Acosta, 1995) kindly answered our collected questions.

 
Hugo Vickers wrote Loving Garbo

GF: Your latest book Cecil Beaton: Portraits and Profiles will be released on Sept 4, 2014. Can we also expect some portraits by our Miss G.?

HV: Yes, she is well represented in the book - two whole pages of text and four glorious photographs. The book is serialized in the Mail on Sunday today - 17 August.

Cecil Beaton: Portraits and Profiles, 2014

GF: Are you planning to publish an ‘expurgated’ version of the ‘happy years’ book, the 3rd volume of Beaton diaries devoted to Garbo one day? Is there an extended version with more details never published before?

HV: Most of the Garbo material was used in ‘Loving Garbo’. There are no plans to publish more diaries at present. I think the relationship has been well enough covered.

HV: There are some original Garbo letters on display in the exhibition at the Salisbury Museum, Wiltshire, UK until 19 September. The exhibition will come to Colefax & Fowler in London on 18th November.

Garbo and Beaton, England 1951

GF: Did you ever meet Valentina Schlee? In this case, did she tell you something about Garbo you could share?

HV: I most certainly did meet Valentina, first in New York in December 1982, then quite a lot in Venice in the summer of 1983 as she was staying in the same hotel, Cipriani. I also visited her in her apartment again in February 1984.

HV: As you will be aware, she did not like Garbo. The only time the name almost came into the conversation, she crossed herself and said in French "On ne dit jamais ce nom-la!" It was interesting to see her apartment as it was identical to Garbo's. Same building, as you know

GG, Schlee and Valentina, ca. late 1950s

GF: Did you ever meet Garbo in person?

HV: No, I was always on the lookout for her when in New York. I once thought I saw her in a doorway when it was raining, but I cannot be certain. On balance not her.

GG walking in NY, ca. mid 1980s

GF: Sam Green. You told us that you knew him. We would love to know if he ever planned on doing a book. Yet, we - as the fans loved that he was so respectful to her and did not sell his personal story and the polaroid’s he made from GG while ‘clowning’ around. Is there anything you might want to share with us?

V: Sam was preparing a book and he told plenty of stories about Garbo. He allowed some authors to use his photos. His tapes of Garbo are at a university in the USA, so available for people to listen to. Unfortunately he died before the book was written. I have some drafts somewhere.

HV: Sam was very clever at making friends with difficult people (Yoko Ono was another). He escorted Garbo round to places, even travelling in Europe to Cecile de Rothschild's etc. She always called him "Mr Green". In the end she dropped him, as she always did to people who were good to her. They "deceived" her.

Garbo and Green on Corsica, 1973

GF: Beaton’s ‘Garbo photos’ from 1946 are amazing and very popular. Yet, we think it is sad that there is no picture book just from the session. Plus there are many more personal pictures Beaton made (in the 50s, 60s). Did you ever think about doing a whole pictures book? The complete 1946 session? Maybe ad the 1950s sessions and the private pictures from the 1960s?

GG by Beaton 1946, Copyright by Sotheby's'

HV: No, I am not keen to do this. I have copyright on Cecil Beaton's words and diaries, but not his photos. Sotheby's have these. They could do a book one day perhaps.

GF: Thank you Mr. Vickers for taking the time and answering our questions.
 

Hugo Vicker’s Cecil Beaton: Portraits and Profiles – His latest book.
Get it  HERE!

August 17, 2014

Mark A. Vieira confirms ‘A man’s man’ is NOT Newsreel footage!

For nearly 85 years Garbo fans weren’t sure if her appearance in the 1929 MGM film A Man’s Man belongs to Garbo’s filmography or not. The film included a short sequenz of Garbo, Gilbert and director Fred Niblo at a film premiere. Many biographers and film historians put this film into Garbo's Filmography while other wrote that the sequence included in this movie was News-reel footage, filmed from the Flesh and the Devil movie premiere.

 
Stills from the Movie

We again asked Mr Vieira (Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy, 2005) and he told us that the premiere scene of A Man’s Man (1929) was specifically filmed for the movie. It is not newsreel footage. The movie is lost. That's why this misinformation persists for over 85 years.

More on the film  HERE!

Thanks to Mark

August 14, 2014

New Cecil Beaton book coming: Portraits of Garbo included?

Cecil Beaton: Portraits and Profiles will be released in England on Sept 2, 2014.

Hugo Vickers (Loving Garbo, 1995) worked on this book. We truly hope some of those rare Garbo pictures Beaton took will be included.

Garbo and Beaton, England 1951

Beaton was one of the most important photographers of the last century. The Royal Family, famous celebrities, writers, singers, painters and statesmen were shot by Beaton. He met Garbo for the first time in the early 1930s but not until the mid 1940s they started a close friendship and an rumoured affair. Beaton made pictures of Garbo from 1946 to 1966. The complete archive of the photographs of Cecil Beaton is now copyrighted to Sotheby's.

Book cover

Product details
- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Frances Lincoln (4 Sep 2014)
- Language: English

Get it  HERE!

Thanks to Gianni

August 12, 2014

Garbo and Dietrich met at Ernst Lubitsch’s ‘Welcome Party for Dietrich’ in 1930?

Should it be known as a fact that both actresses met in Hollywood? Should we have no doubt about their encounter and even a little conversation between the two icons?

We get so many questions regarding a possible ‘meeting’ between these two legends, that we thought to point out a very good source that a meeting may happened. Salka Viertel’s autobiography from 1970 and the fantastic German book about GG and Salka by Nicole Nottelmann from 2011.

The famous GG/MD montage by E. Steichen

The Welcome Party
It was in late April or early May 1930 when the great director Ernst Lubitsch gave a welcome party for a new arising star from Germany, Miss Marlene Dietrich. She had just arrived a few days earlier after her enormous success as Lola Lola in THE BLUE ANGEL. Dietrich had a Hollywood contract  in her pocket and her new studio Paramount wanted to create a kind of new Garbo who was the leading star of Hollywood.

There were selected guests on Lubitsch's party - mostly German speaking celebrities - who should be introduced to Marlene who didn't have a name yet in Hollywood. Among those guests was Salka Viertel who had been admiring Garbo for a longer time already. She had seen her before on a Party given by Emil Jannings but didn't dare to approach Garbo who was surrounded by a bunch of fans.

Greta sat next to Marlene on a couch
But this time Salka was lucky. Her friend Jacques Feyder, another great director, took her over to a couch where Greta sat next to Marlene having some small talk. Monsieur Feyder introduced Salka to Greta who was obviously delighted and wanted to move to the side to enable a seat for Salka.

Marlene, however, didn't like the interruption and kept her seat on the small coach. Greta took the chance and went outside on the patio with Salka where they had a very long conversation together which was the beginning of their lifelong friendship until Salka died in 1978.

Why didn’t Salka confirm that it was Marlene?
In 1969 Salka Viertel wrote her famous autobiography DAS UNBELEHRBARE HERZ (THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS) and she was such a fine lady that she didn't even mention Marlene's name in relation to Garbo, her beloved friend, on that Lubitsch Party.

Salka just wrote „a German actress“ and did without another famous name because she was no gossip at all. But all intimate friends did know who that German actress was.

Salka Viertel had become Garbo's best friend. There was a big understanding, harmony, respect, friendship and adoration between the two women. So Salka's book is a reliable source that Garbo and Dietrich had met personally? And that they even had talked together?

Source: Nicole Nottelmann, 2011 - Aufbau Verlag

Buy the German book  HERE!

August 12, 2014

Garbo and Ingmar Bergman

Two Swedish movie legends. Ingmar admired her and his films captivated Miss GG.  On a visit to Stockholm in 1962 Garbo met Ingmar, who was tempted to ask her to take a small part in The Silence.

In their brief meeting, however, the subject somehow never came up. Bergman dedicated a whole page about this meeting, in his 1988 published autobiography The Magic Lantern. His description of Garbo ended with his opinion that she had an ugly mouth!! What did GG think about him and his remark?

Go  HERE!

Thanks to Nici, Isabell and Chad

August 10, 2014

Finally, the transcription from Garbo’s only Radio Interview

This is a transcription of the radio interview GG gave to Swedish to reporters in 1946.

On 6 July 1946, GG boarded the Gripsholm for her first postwar visit to Sweden. An army of reporters awaited her at the dock with questions, and one or two of them even got an answer. Our Swedish friend Henning Sebastian Jahre translated this us.

She talked about her comeback, about Ingrid Bergman and other things.

Find the full transcription  HERE!

Hear the interview
 

Very special thanks to Henning, Patrick and Sara

August 9, 2014

New QUEEN CHRISTINA movie: German release date

You may all know, that a new movie on Kristina of Sweden was made. Movie is called THE GIRL KING and will be released in 2015. Malin Buska will play the queen; Sarah Gadon will be her lady in waiting and lesbian lover countess Ebba!

Ebba and Christina - Copyright by Anette FOTOGRAFIK, Anette Varjonen.

We just asked Starhaus Filmproduktion GmbH (German co-producer of the film) about a German release date and they confirmed that the theatrical release date is spring 2015.

Visit STARHAUS  HERE!

August 7, 2014

When GARBO met MAE WEST

The alpha and omega of film femininity!

The most legendary encounter of all took place in May 1968 at the West Hollywood home of George Cukor. It was a small, carefully plotted dinner party in honor of two special guests: Garbo and Mae West–the alpha and omega of film femininity. The only others present were Gayelord Hauser, Frey Brown, and Roddy McDowall. What happened?

Read  HERE!

August 6, 2014

Lots of funny Garbo Merchandising

Our friend Mireille just send us this link with lots of funny stuff on GG.
Have a look.

   

Go  HERE  and  HERE  to see all!

Thanks Mireille

August 6, 2014

When the Italian Garbo met the real Garbo!

She was one of the greatest Italian stage actresses. Falk died in Rome at the age of 86. The label “the Italian Greta Garbo” was well chosen, and even her hairstyle recalled that of the film star, though Falk’s career, unlike Garbo’s, continued well into her eighties.

Her 2006 biography was called The Last Diva, and someone just send us a little excerpt about Falks meeting with Garbo.

Rosella Falk

A roughly translated expert from the Rosella Falk
biography la Divina (Italy, 2006)

In the book it is written that in 1972 Rosella Falk briefly sawGG in Florence, at an exhibition. The next day, a friend from Miss G., told Rossella that Garbo would like to meet her.

Sometime later they met on Rossella husband's yacht in Antibes.

Katherine Hepburn was a ‘witch’!

GG told Rossella that she loved the Big Apple in New York, but complaint that her apartment was only a few steps away from the apartment of that "witch“ Katherine Hepburn,. Falk said that Garbo was unhappy with Hepburn because she made a movie called The Iron Petticoat. The movie was a parody on Ninotchka, and Garbo thought the Hepburn film was the worst movie that she had ever seen.

A movie with both ‘Garbo’s’?

Anyway, Rossella also wrote that GG joked about doing a movie with Falk. GG suggested „I could impersonate Virginia Woolf, and you, Rossella, Victoria Sackville West ... and it could be released after my death!"

She wanted do the film in less than one week and on board of the yacht. Her idea was that it could be produced by Rossella's husband. She also wanted them both to wear red wigs and intense makeup, so that nobody could recognize them in this experimental film. 

The book

You can get the book  HERE!

Thanks to Anna

August 6, 2014

Coming exhibition with Garbo costumes and/or jewelry?

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston/USA, will showcase Hollywood Glamour in a Fall Exhibition this year.

“Hollywood Glamour: Fashion and Jewelry from the Silver Screen” will present designer gowns and exquisite jewelry from the 1930s and ‘40s—the most glamorous years of Hollywood film.

Garbo glamour

The exhibition, from Sept. 9, 2014, to March 8, 2015, focuses on the iconic style of sultry starlets of the period, including Gloria Swanson, Anna May Wong, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, and Joan Crawford.

Along with eye-catching gowns once worn by famous figures and the sparkling jewels that contributed to their allure from the MFA and private collections, photography by Edward Steichen along with period photographs, film stills, and film clips capture the style of the silver screen era.

More  HERE!

Garbo’s gowns and costumes

Everybody who admire Greta Garbo in her movies will be definitely impressed by the extraordinary gowns she was wearing.

This Inspiration costume is in an American Museum.

The biggest artists created unique costumes and MGM had the best designers on board who made compositions of gowns which were like paintings.

Wanna know more about Garbos gowns and costumes?
Go  HERE!

August 5, 2014

Message from writer Lena Einhorn and a nice 'hint'
of a possible future Garbo project

On Sept. 8, the German version of Einhorn's Blekingegatan 32 (Sweden, 2013) will be released. We already have the book and i can tell you, it was worth the wait. The German version of the novel titled: Liebesverrückt

Many asked us if the book will also be translated into English or French? We asked Mrs Einhorn, and she told us that there is a slight possibility that this could happen in the future

She also added that the book started as a feature film script that has as of yet not been realized. The screenplay is being pitched, so it is in the financing stages.

Lena's messsage to GarboForever

”Thanks for providing such a great resource for all of us interested in the elusive – and yet not so elusive – Greta Gustafsson Garbo.” 

 The premise of Blekingegatan 32 aka Liebesverrückt

 
Greta and Mimi, 1922

The novel (based on the letters Garbo send to her Swedish friend Mimi Pollack)  is about the woman who was to become Greta Garbo. The story begins in Greta’s impoverished childhood home in the district of Södermalm, Stockholm, and takes us via the Swedish Royal Drama School to her life as the world´s biggest movie star. But what did she leave behind?

You can get it via Amazon.de  HERE  and more about Lena  HERE!

August 4, 2014

Maria Callas and Garbo

Garbo and Callas met several times between the end of the 1950s and 1960s.

It was during the love affair of Onassis and Callas and since Garbo was a friend of Onassis they met often. The two women got on extremely well. During a 1969 TV special in France, Callas mentioned that she met Garbo quite often.

She was talking about her upcoming film Medea which was to be directed by Pasolini. Luchino Visconti, who also was attended at this show, was sceptical and said that he did not think that Pasolini was the right director from a great tragedienne like Callas.

Callas said that the first time she became really fascinated with cinema was when she watched Garbo in Camille.

Callas talks about Garbo in an 1969 interview

 You can read the full story  HERE!

Thanks to Nakis

August 4, 2014

Feature film about Garbo's dinner with the Kennedy’s?

American film and television director/writer Allison Anders just told us that she is working on a screenplay about Garbo's dinner with the Kennedy's and hopes to turn this into a feature film.

Garbo 1960, by C. Beaton

Garbo and the Kennedy's

One evening in 1963, Garbo spent some time at the White House. The previous summer in Europe, she had become quite friendly with Lem Billings, one of President Kennedy's closest friends, who, on his return to America, spoke extensively about his time with her. What happened?

You can read the full story  HERE!

Anders has directed many independent films, on which she frequently collaborates with fellow UCLA film school graduate Kurt Voss. Two of her best known works are Four Rooms (USA 1995) and Grace of my Heart (USA 1996).

Allround talent Allison Anders

Allison also wrote a fab BLOG, which we will present later this week.

More on Anders on IMDB.
Go  HERE!

August 2, 2014

Joyce Guerovich: A Garbo relative?

Joyce is a Peruvian model and TV-host. Our friend Gala send us this information today. In March 2011, Newspapers in Peru wrote that Joyce is a great-granddaughter of Garbo’s niece. Her great-grandfather was GG´s first cousin, Fray Juan Blas Gustaffson.

Copyirght by www.Soho.com.pe

 Read the original text (it’s in Spanish)  HERE!  

See Joyce on Youtube

More info on other Garbo relatives  HERE!

Thanks to Gala

August 2, 2014

We like to introduce you to THE GARBO GROUP

In May we heard for the first time that there is a ‘Garbo Group’ in Miss G’s hometown Södermalm (Stockholm/Sweden). So we wondered what this group is and contacted one of the members. Mari Svensson answered all our questions. The members of the group all live near or even in the house Greta lived as a child – Blekingegatan 32.

The apartment house

The original building was demolished in 1967. In 2004 the flats in the building were for sale and those people who bought the flats created the GARBO GROUP in 2005 on GGs 100th birthday. They arranged a HUGE meeting there and had 300 visitors. Special Garbo cakes were made from the local bakery next door and coffee was served.

  
The "Garbo Mine"

Mari told us that they have pictures and a small collection of Greta Garbo material in a special GARBO PUB! This is a room down below the house. Nearly every month, they arrange a meeting there for the members of the house to talk about things concerning the house. At GGs birthday, deathday and special occasions they make special meetings there. Dedicated to Garbo. Of course ‘outsiders’ are invited too.

If you want to see the house or be part of the GARBO PUB, you can contact them. They also would make ‘walks’ with you in Södermalm and show you certain Greta related places (see our Stockholm Tour).

Of course they don’t arrange ‘Garbo Södermalm Tours’ in the summertime. If you ever go to Sweden, you can visit the GARBO GROUP and other places related to Miss G..

Use our GARBO STOCKHOLM TOUR.  HERE!

See more pictures from the house GG lived as a child and teenager: Go  HERE!

Thanks to Frank and Mari

August 2, 2014

Garbo in REAL color

What a treasure!!! This must be the best quality version of the famous color portrait.

It was made by Clarence Sinclair Bull in 1936 and is a copy of the carbro color print that was on his living room wall in 1975 and 1978.

This is the best color we have seen of this image.

More Garbo in REAL color  HERE!

Thanks to Mark

August 1, 2014

Will Warner Home Video issue new Garbo DVDs?

Some encouraging news via Home Theatre Forum that film restoration specialist Robert A. Harris had a private meeting at lunch with Warner Home Video executives a few days ago and has said they're planning to step up their catalogue releases in the coming months.

They may issue new films of Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Vincente Minelli, Fred Astaire, Greta Garbo & Frank Sinatra and many more.

The plans also involve a significant expansion of the blu-ray releases coming from the Warner Archives Collection, which entails direct on-line marketing via TCM, Amazon and their own websites.

More  HERE!

Thanks to Isabel

July 31, 2014

The Mysterious Lady screens in New York/USA

Will be screened in NYC Aug 8 and 10 (7:00 p.m.) with live music accompaniment by Ben Model.

Introduced by James Harvey, author of Watching Them Be: Star Presence on the Screen from Garbo to Balthazar, who will sign copies of his book at 6:30 on August 8.

The James Harvey book

More  HERE!

Thanks to Ben Model

July 30, 2014

The full Info on the Queen Christina Costume and Lighting tests

In January 2014, the Acedemy Archive released an excerp of a 9-minute costume and lightning test from Garbo’s Queen Christina. The tests were preserved by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

We are very proud that Mark A. Vieira (author of Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy) shared his statement about the tests and the preservation with us.

Read all about it  HERE!

Here is the excerpt from the nine-minute long test!

The full 9-minute’s version has yet to be released.

Thanks to Mark A. Vieira

July 28, 2014

Interview on the new French Garbo book by Nelly Kaprièlian

La manteaux de Greta Garbo is a new coming French book (we already wrote about it). The Author Nelly Kaprièlian just gave an interview for TV.

Publisher: Grasset et Fasquelle
Release date: September 1, 2014 in France.

La manteaux de Greta Garbo means ‘Greta Garbo's coat’.

Get the book  HERE!

Thanks to Nakis

July 20, 2014

TCM USA airs Mata Hari

2:45am ET/11:45pm PT.

More Details  HERE!

July 20, 2014

How did Garbo sound after her final film?
In 1989 she had a phone conversation with
her Swedish friend Sven Broman.

Ultimate fans know, that  there is this rumor Bromann/Garbo phonecall rumor. After Miss G. died in 1990, Swedish TV contacted reporter Sven Broman (he also wrote the Book ‘Conversations with Garbo’ and co-wrote F. Sands ‘The Divine Garbo’) and asked him to do an interview. He did so and also showed them an audio recording of a short telephone interview he had with Garbo in 1989. During this short talk, they spoke about the meeting  beteen Garbo, Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in 1988.

The conversation was rumored to be in SWEDISH language and further information seemed to be lost….forever.

For nearly 25 years many fans wondered if this was true or not. We know can confirm this as true. It’s a 5 minute phone talk. Karen Swenson also wrote about the meeting in her amazing ‘A Life Apart’ book.

Hearing her voice for the first time since 1942, was an amazing experience to us. She sounded soooo beautiful and when she picked up the phone she was quite shy but when Greta heard who is on the phone, her voice started to light up and she said, in a very NINOTCHKA sounding voice, ‘OH……MR BRUUUUUUMAN’.

Garbo ca. mid 1980s

When Garbo met Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

In 1988, the Queen and King of Sweden visited America and Garbo. On their last day in town, the King and Queen of Sweden were coming to pay their respects to MISS G.

The door was opened. Carl XVI Gustaf, his royal consort, Silvia, and the eighty-two-year-old former actress exchanged a proper protocol of handshakes and bows, then sat down to tea and chatted in Swedish about the weather and other simple things, excluding movies.

Read the complete story  HERE!

July 20, 2014

Ted Leyson: The man who stalked Garbo?

It is quite known in our fan-world that American Paparazzo Ted Leyson haunted and stalked Garbo for nearly 10 years. He also made that famous 'last picture' of her.

However, we just got in contact with a friend of him and he told us a diff. story. The person is American photographer Vern Lovic, who knew Ted quite well.

Here is what he told us about Ted

“I spent a few years with Ted, walking the streets of NYC on almost a daily basis. I never met Greta, but I did go with him a few times over to her condo with him. He wasn't infatuated with her in a sick way – he had a genuine fondness for her and he wanted only the best for her. He saw some of her movies and something took hold inside him... he was fascinated by her. Awed by her... and since she lived right there in NYC where he lived and worked, he sometimes saw her.

Ted was GOOD man. He was so patient. He LOVED Greta from deep inside. She was his idol really. When he'd say Anna Karenina his eyes would roll to the back of his head – he loved her really. He never meant to have her angry at him, he was a fan 100%. He wasn't a stalker of her – at least not when I knew him.

It's a fallacy that he stalked her daily – I was with him daily – hundreds of days and we only went by her street and building once a month or so, and never at night. Ted was a great teacher and good person to spend time with in the city. I learned a lot and he shared with me endless tips on shooting images and making contacts with newspapers and foreign publications so I could sell my freelance photos.

It was a great couple of years in NYC!

You can see some of Lovic’s work  HERE  and for Ted Leyson’s Garbo pics  HERE!

July 15, 2014

The GARBO Museum in Sweden

We just wanted to show you again – THE GARBO MUSEUM.

In Sweden it is simply known as Garbosällskapet. This little but very impressive Garbo "museum" was founded, by The Garbo Society, in 2001 in Hogsby (Sweden). It is an independent idealistic association.

The "Museum" is open to every interested person.

 
 
 

The intentions and purposes are to: Serve as a meeting-point for people interested in Garbo collect and issue information concerning Greta Garbo Develop the Garbo Exhibition in Hogsby Expand the interest for film as an expression of culture be a community above the generations work for the foundation of a Garbo stipendiary fund.

Garbo’s gravestone by night

Rune from the Society, send us this wonderful picture of GG’s gravestone by night. It was taken at All Saints Day 2012. We all see that there are still many many many people who are remembering the legend of Greta Garbo.

More  HERE!

Thanks to Rune and the Society

July 11, 2014

1984: Garbo’s last 'photosession'?

We just updated the PASSPORT picture section. You can see very interesting pictures which were made especially for her passports and I came across this one. 

Could this be Garbo’s last ‘professional’ photo session?

This photograph has probably been Garbo's very last photo shot! Maybe it was taken in a public passport photograph booth or a friend has done the last camera shot with her permission. Maybe she was responsible for her own makeup and hairstyle, an appropriate lighting was installed for her last passport photograph in 1984.

Isn't that a charming picture? See more from this session and  larger versions on the GarboForum.

This latest passport was sold at Juliens Auction Dec. 2012.

More  HERE!

July 11, 2014

Queen Christina screening in Scranton, PA (USA)

Albright Memorial Library in Scranton, PA, USA is presenting a "Ladies of Pre-Code" film series throughout August.

The final film (Wed., August 27) in the series is Queen Christina.

More info  HERE!

Thanks to Bill

July 11, 2014

New Garbo book for the German market

In fact it is not really new but it is the German version of the Lena Einhorn novel titled: Liebesverrückt.

German version

Release date. Sept. 8, 2014

”I thought I ’knew’ Greta Garbo. This is how Lena Einhorn begins the epilogue of her novel Blekinge Street 32. At the end of the nineties, Einhorn had made a television documentary about Garbo and therefore had had reason to spend many hours with this inaccessible and – mostly – unhappy woman who was once the world’s greatest movie star.

But then, in 2005, Einhorn got to read the thirty-three letters from Greta Garbo to fellow actress Mimi Pollak. They hailed right back to Greta and Mimi’s time as students at the Royal Drama School, and continued until long after the end of Greta’s career. Mimi was said to have kept these letters in her purse through her entire life.

And suddenly a completely different Greta Garbo emerged: a woman who had once had other choices in life, and who already felt she had achieved her dreams when suddenly a world-famous film director – Mauritz Stiller – came forward and explained to her that she could go further than that – much, much further…

The novel Blekingegatan 32 opens in 1920, in an impoverished home in the district of Södermalm, in Stockholm. Greta has recently lost her father and works as a sales girl of hats at PUB, a major department store. But she longs to get away, fantasizes about another life. Aged seventeen, she manages to get in to the Royal Drama School as the youngest of all the school’s students. We will follow this period in her life, which, later, she would describe as the happiest one she ever had. It was a time of well-being, friendship and, for the first time in Greta’s young life, a sense of belonging. It was a time, also, of passionate love.

But then, suddenly, a total change of scene is ushered in with the entrance of master director Mauritz Stiller. He lays the world at her feet, and at the same time pulls her away from the places and people she knows and loves.

You can buy it  here  on September 8th 2014

The orginal novel is called "Blekingegatan 32" and was released in Sweden August 2013. It is inspired by the letters Garbo wrote to her friend Mimi Pollak.

Orginal book

More  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

July 8, 2014

Color private Video footage from the late 60s

Our friend Anna from Italy send us this treasure. Amazing little gifs right?  Probably Garbo’s first color film. Wonder where the video is and where the clips are coming from. If anyone knows please get in contact with us.

More in the Forum.

More private pictures from this decade HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

July 3, 2014

Greta Garbo Poem

Just found this. A nice article about Americans and Garbo

Picture by Jeanne Meinke

 Read article  HERE!

Greta Garbo Poem #25
When I’m with Greta Garbo
she gets very talkative
She likes me to put on my Russian accent
and she plays Ninotchka again
People think we’re crazy
especially the waiters at Howard Johnson’s
Do you want dessert? they ask
Oh no says Greta Garbo
Ve vant to be alone!
and she & I laugh and laugh and laugh

“Greta Garbo Poem #25,” by Peter Meinke, is from The Contracted World: New & More Selected Poems, U. of Pittsburgh Press (2006)

June 30, 2014

Info about the lack of Updates

Dear Greta Garbo friends and members,

as you can see something has happened after a very long time of silence. There are some UPDATES and NEWS about Greta listed again and we will probably be able to continue to do so in future.

Unfortunately I was very busy with my job in the past which kept me away from my obligations here which I always did voluntarily and with great ambition.

Well, everything is going better now and I am glad to be ready again to work on the news and even on more stuff to enjoy you all together.

Sorry for the time of inconvenience- also the fact that new members couldn't apply. We are very glad about your faithful memberships and even more about old members who were absent and came back. Plus some new ones. That is just wonderful!

So have a good time here, enter regularly and read and comment what you like. Greta forever!

With best wishes - Your webmaster(s)

June 30, 2014

GGs 1938 United States Immigrant ID Card

Isn’t it wonderful?

Just saw it is on sale on Ebay.com and had to post. You can buy it for…..
US $9,500.00

 Link to auction HERE!

June 25, 2014

Ninotchka screening in Newtown/USA

The schedule for June 29 will be: 1 pm, Laurel & Hardy’s Flying Deuces; 4 pm, Ninotchka starring Greta Garbo; and 7 pm, a double feature of Ninotchka and Flying Deuces.

More Details  HERE!

June 21, 2014

Le manteau de Greta Garbo: A novel by Nelly Kaprièlian

The personality and life of G. Garbo revealed through the prism of her wardrobe.

Publisher: Grasset et Fasquelle
Release date: September 1, 2014 in France.

La manteaux de Greta Garbo means ‘Greta Garbo's coat’.

More Info  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

June 10, 2014

Ibanez's Torrent is film of the month on Robbo’s blog

June 10, 2014

Garbo Paintings by Robert De Niro, Sr.

Robert De Niro, Sr. (May 3, 1922 – May 3, 1993) was an American abstract expressionist painter and the father of actor Robert De Niro.

In the documentary Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro, Sr., by Robert De Niro about his father, is a segment where it is said that De Niro, Sr. was a huge Garbo fan and painted several portraits of her (usually of the bar scene in Anna Christie).

Robert De Niro, Jr. credits Garbo as one of his biggest inspirations to take up acting. His father would take him to see Greta's films over and over and as a result, De Niro, Jr. became fascinated with her and while his father painted her portraits, he would study her acting technique.

A friend of De Niro, Sr.'s, tells a story in the documentary: "Bob was going to a show of his on 57th Street. He was going up in the elevator, and she's in that elevator with him. And he had paintings of her upstairs...and he chickened out. He could not get up the courage to talk to her and tell her. And she got out and left. That was a big thing that he missed on."

Here's a few of Robert De Niro, Sr.'s Garbo paintings:

   

Greta, however, apparently owned a print of one of De Niro, Sr.'s drawings of her. This painting was also published in the book of the 2012 Julien auction.

See  HERE!

Thanks to Audrey for the info, text and pictures

June 4, 2014

‘Cecil Beaton at HOME’ exhibition in London

An exhibition at the Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum traces the life of Cecil Beaton at two of his homes, Ashcombe and Reddish.

Beaton at home. Photo by Beaton.

It will start on Friday, May 23, 2014
and will end Friday, September 19, 2014

Garbo in Beatons house, England 1951

Beaton biographer Hugo Vickers talked about the exhibition in a nice report. See the video HERE!

More on GG and Beaton HERE!

© by 'The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby's'

May 24, 2014

Watching Them Be: Star Presence on the Screen from Garbo to Balthazar

New book by James Harvey. Rumored that it will have lots of Garbo information. Release date is July 8, 2014. 

The James Harvey book

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Faber & Faber; First Edition edition (July 8, 2014)
Language: English

“It's James Harvey watching them be, the star presences, Garbo, and Bette Davis, and Dreyer’s Falconetti's eyes, Laughton, and all the others, in all their circumstance of beauty and compelling power, their vulnerability and pathos. It’s his own intense, reasonable, attentive, documented gaze that teaches us, and powerfully deepens our own experience of watching them be. A great book; his writing is passionate, dispassionate, lucid, everything to learn from. It exemplifies what criticism ought to be.” —David Ferry, author of Bewilderment. Praise for Movie Love in the Fifties

Get it  HERE!

Thanks to Ben

May 16, 2014

New movie on QUEEN CHRISTINA: Filming has wrapped

Director Mika Kaurismäki has completed principal photography on THE GIRL KING, based on the life of Swedish Queen Kristina.

Ebba and Christina - Copyright by Anette FOTOGRAFIK, Anette Varjonen.

The plot:
THE GIRL KING is the story of one of the most iconic Queens in history. Queen Kristina, at her father’s request raised as a prince, is thrust into a world of conflict. Faced with the austere, fiercely conservative Lutheran values of the time she begins her reign in confrontation – opting for education for all her subjects and an end to the Thirty Years War.

Pulled between the Lutheran and Catholic forces, conspiring for her allegiance, she also faces an internal struggle. Falling deeply in love with her lady in waiting, the stunning Ebba Sparre, she is left confused and wanting. As the forces converge, Kristina is pushed towards making one of the greatest and most scandalous decisions in history.

This is the story of the young Kristina, preceding this momentous and influential decision.

Read more about it  HERE!

May 1, 2014

New pics from Garbo’s Grave from April 2014

Our friend Frank and his lovely wife Alexandra went to Stockholm in late April. Here are some new pictures from the wonderful gravestone.

They also visited the Gustafsson’s, Stiller’s and Lars Hanson final resting place.

  

Wanna go to Sweden too? Don’t miss our GARBO STOCKHOLM TOUR. Go  HERE!

Thanks to Frank and Alexandra

April 17, 2014

First TV Series about Garbo & Dietrich?

Produced by Megan Ellison for Annapurna Pictures.

The untitled project from scribes Angela Robinson (“True Blood,” “Hung”) and Alex Kondracke (“Hung,” “The L-Word”) is set in Hollywood’s Golden Age and explores the relationships of the film icons with such legends as John Gilbert, Mercedes de Acosta, Tallulah Bankhead, Alla Nazimova, Barbara Stanwyck, Cary Grant and John Wayne.

More info  HERE  and  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

March 15, 2014

Greta Garbo: The Mystery of Style book will be re-issued

Will be re-issued on late March 25th.
No details known.

Get it  HERE!

March 8, 2014

Rome's Nordic Film Festival: Garbo tribute

It will take place at the Casa del Cinema in Rome/Italy April 13.

They will screen Queen Christina.

The festival is designed to promote the film industry and culture of the Nordic countries, and includes Italian premieres, documentaries and short films.

More info  HERE!

Thanks to RubyRed

Feb. 15, 2014

Garbo’s Marie Walewska on DVD for the Italian market

The DVD will be issued in Italy in late-March, 2014.

Studio: A & R Productions
Release Date: March 23, 2014

Get it  HERE!

Feb. 7, 2014

New movie on QUEEN CHRISTINA OF SWEDEN

Movie is called THE GIRL KING and will be released in 2015. Malin Buska will play the queen; Sarah Gadon will be her lady in waiting and lesbian lover countess Ebba!

Director: Mika Kaurismäki
Co-Producers: Galafilm (Canada), Stahaus Filmproduktion (Germany), Marianna Films (Finland), Anagram Film (Sweden), Arsam International (France)

Ebba and Christina - Copyright by Anette FOTOGRAFIK, Anette Varjonen.

Read more about it HERE!

January 20, 2014

Queen Christina costume and make-up test found

The costume test was preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012 through “Project Film-to-Film,” aimed at preserving as many films on film as possible over a two-year period. The project allowed the Academy to make new elements for over 500 projects in the Archive’s collection.

This piece is an excerpt from the nine-minute long test!

 

On Friday, July 21, 1933, in preparation for the production of Queen Christina, Greta Garbo sat for a costume test with cinematographer William H. Daniels.

Thanks to RubyRed

January 5, 2014

New polish Garbo book coming!

Greta Garbo - Moja Miłość. Will be issued in March 2014.

English translation: Greta Garbo - My Love
Author: Ellen Mattson
Publisher: Wydawnictow Marginesy
More Info: 380 pages