GARBO BIO'S WORTH READING

Greta Garbo was the very definition of the word, "star". She was probably the most beautiful woman on screen ever with only Elizabeth Taylor coming close behind her. The camera loved her and she radiated beauty from every frame of film. Her mysterious personality also led to her allure and made her even more desirable. These qualities enabled her to get a few modeling jobs for the Stockholm department store when she was young, where she worked and led her to her film roles.

She was born on September 18, 1905 in Stockholm, Sweden. Her real name was Greta Gustafsson and in her early films she was billed using this name. She gained a couple of good trade reviews and won a scholarship to the Royal Dramatic Theater. While there, she was spotted by director Mauritz Stiller who was an important filmmaker in the early 20's. Stiller cast Greta in The Atonement of Gosta Berling, 1923 which made her a minor star. The director became Greta's mentor and lover, glamorizing her image and changing her professional name to Garbo. She was then cast in a German film drama The Joyless Street, 1925, which was directed by G. W. Pabst.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer hired Stiller who insisted on bringing Garbo with him even though Louie B. Mayer was unimpressed by her. It was only after shooting commenced on her first American film, The Torrent, 1926, that MGM realized it had a potential gold mine. Stiller was not successful in Hollywood, but Garbo became MGM's biggest star.

In Flesh and the Devil, 1927, Garbo costarred with John Gilbert for the first time. It became obvious that they were in love off the screen, as well as, on. The Garbo/Gilbert team went on to make many pictures together and Garbo even lived with Gilbert for a time. He wanted to marry her and it is said that she had agreed, but backed down at the last minute and didn't show up for the wedding. In fact, although she had many affairs, and some with famous people such as Leopold Stokowsky and director Rouben Mamoulien, she never married.

There was much concern about Garbo's first talking picture since she had such a thick Swedish accent and, in fact, it was delayed as long as possible while MGM looked for just the right script. However, everyone's fears were abated by the success of Anna Christie, which was heralded with the famous ad "Garbo Talks" advertising campaign. Her aloofness and desire to "be alone" served to increase her following.

Even though Garbo's talking pictures were not as commercially successful as her silent films, she was still extremely popular.

As World War II began, Garbo became less and less popular even with her successful Ninotchka, 1939, a comedy which was advertised like Anna Christie by advertising, "Garbo Laughs".

Her last film was in 1941, Two Faced Woman which was not a success. She retired from movies immediately permanently although she was almost lured out of retirement to make Hitchcock's The Paradine Case, 1947, but decided against it. She lived in New York city and was often seen strolling the streets near her apartment. She died in 1990 in New York City, "alone", as she wanted to be.