What do you think?
Rate this book
The Films of Greta Garbo
The screen's most enigmatic personality as she appeared in the twenty-seven films of her career. A unique picture album, fully documented with casts, credits, synopses, and contemporary reviews.
- GenresNonfictionFilm
155 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1963
23 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 2, 2022
Many books out there about Greta Garbo; some excellent, many not so good and some bordering on utter nonsense.
This one is basically a summary of all the films made by the great Swedish actress beginning with her first feature, a comedy, made in her homeland: "Peter the Tramp" (1922) as Greta Gustafsson. Her next was "The Story of Gosta Berling" (1924) directed by Mauritz Stiller and with her name altered to Garbo, drawing the attention of international audiences and in particular Louis B. Mayer who brought both star and director to Hollywood.
Her first film for M-G-M was "The Torrent" (1926) and her performance dazzled the critics. VARIETY: "Greta Garbo, making her American debut as a screen star, might just as well be hailed right here as the find of the year. This girl has everything, with looks, acting ability, and personality. When one is a Scandinavian and can put over a Latin characterization with sufficient power to make it most convincing, need there be any more said regarding her ability?"
Another major event occurred with this film. Garbo found her #1 cinematographer, the master lighting stylist William H. Daniels who was instrumental in creating that special magic which connected the allure of star to screen to audience.
This Citadel "films of" was published in 1963 and documents all her twenty-seven films with casts, credits, synopses and reviews from the day and highlighted by a fabulous selection of stills and portraits.
Distinguished film and social critic Parker Tyler provides an astute and unique introduction titled: The Garbo Image.
Overall an excellent career study and a fine collectors item detailing the career of one of the legendary stars of early Hollywood.
Films include "Flesh and the Devil"/ "Love"/ "A Woman of Affairs" - all co-starring John Gilbert/ "Anna Christie" (Oscar nomination and her first sound film in which Richard Watts Jr. noted in the NY Herald Tribune: "Her voice is revealed as a deep, husky, throaty contralto that possesses every bit of that fabulous poetic glamour that has made this distant Swedish lady the outstanding actress of the motion picture world.")/ "Romance" (Oscar nomination)/ "Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise" (with Gable)/ "Mata Hari" (with Ramon Novarro)/ the Oscar winning Best Pic "Grand Hotel" with an all-star cast with her character playing opposite John Barrymore/ the classic "Queen Christina" with John Gilbert and Lewis Stone; the latter's seventh and final appearance with GG/ "The Painted Veil" - "Again GG triumphs by the sheer beauty of herself and a spirit over a picture that is only tolerable because of what she gives to it" - Picture Play magazine.
A memorable performance as "Anna Karenina" (a remake of "Love"), co-starring Fredric March/ the Cukor "Camille" (another Oscar nomination as Best Actress) with Robert Taylor/ "Conquest" with Charles Boyer/ her first American comedy and second with Melvyn Douglas, the Ernst Lubitsch masterpiece "Ninotchka" which would earn her another Academy Award nomination.
The Board of Governors would later honor Garbo with a Special 1954 Academy award for "her unforgettable screen performances."
My review based on 1963 Citadel hardcover first edition/ 155 pages; more than 170 black and white photos.
This one is basically a summary of all the films made by the great Swedish actress beginning with her first feature, a comedy, made in her homeland: "Peter the Tramp" (1922) as Greta Gustafsson. Her next was "The Story of Gosta Berling" (1924) directed by Mauritz Stiller and with her name altered to Garbo, drawing the attention of international audiences and in particular Louis B. Mayer who brought both star and director to Hollywood.
Her first film for M-G-M was "The Torrent" (1926) and her performance dazzled the critics. VARIETY: "Greta Garbo, making her American debut as a screen star, might just as well be hailed right here as the find of the year. This girl has everything, with looks, acting ability, and personality. When one is a Scandinavian and can put over a Latin characterization with sufficient power to make it most convincing, need there be any more said regarding her ability?"
Another major event occurred with this film. Garbo found her #1 cinematographer, the master lighting stylist William H. Daniels who was instrumental in creating that special magic which connected the allure of star to screen to audience.
This Citadel "films of" was published in 1963 and documents all her twenty-seven films with casts, credits, synopses and reviews from the day and highlighted by a fabulous selection of stills and portraits.
Distinguished film and social critic Parker Tyler provides an astute and unique introduction titled: The Garbo Image.
Overall an excellent career study and a fine collectors item detailing the career of one of the legendary stars of early Hollywood.
Films include "Flesh and the Devil"/ "Love"/ "A Woman of Affairs" - all co-starring John Gilbert/ "Anna Christie" (Oscar nomination and her first sound film in which Richard Watts Jr. noted in the NY Herald Tribune: "Her voice is revealed as a deep, husky, throaty contralto that possesses every bit of that fabulous poetic glamour that has made this distant Swedish lady the outstanding actress of the motion picture world.")/ "Romance" (Oscar nomination)/ "Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise" (with Gable)/ "Mata Hari" (with Ramon Novarro)/ the Oscar winning Best Pic "Grand Hotel" with an all-star cast with her character playing opposite John Barrymore/ the classic "Queen Christina" with John Gilbert and Lewis Stone; the latter's seventh and final appearance with GG/ "The Painted Veil" - "Again GG triumphs by the sheer beauty of herself and a spirit over a picture that is only tolerable because of what she gives to it" - Picture Play magazine.
A memorable performance as "Anna Karenina" (a remake of "Love"), co-starring Fredric March/ the Cukor "Camille" (another Oscar nomination as Best Actress) with Robert Taylor/ "Conquest" with Charles Boyer/ her first American comedy and second with Melvyn Douglas, the Ernst Lubitsch masterpiece "Ninotchka" which would earn her another Academy Award nomination.
The Board of Governors would later honor Garbo with a Special 1954 Academy award for "her unforgettable screen performances."
My review based on 1963 Citadel hardcover first edition/ 155 pages; more than 170 black and white photos.
Displaying 1 of 1 review