I met her this very same year walking in Central Park, NYC. She introduced me to her daughter who was walking with her, and we sat down on a nearby bench to chat. A very friendly woman, and still very good looking. My face was inches from her face as we talked. That was her real face - no plastic surgery. And that was her real hair - no wig. She was tiny - 4Ft.11 or something, but what charisma still!
That must have been something. Watching interviews of her during this time period and she seemed like a very normal, down to earth lady. Very beautiful too.
@@jamesharper3933 Hi! Summoned back 7 years after posting! I still have great memories of that afternoon as a college kid in Central Park, 40 years ago. When I asked her what she was doing in New York, she cocked her head and with a coquette-ish smile, said, "Why, I've lived here since '38"!
This is beautiful. She has lived one of the most extraordinary, full lives in entertainment history. And here she is, looking decades younger than her actual age, and reflecting on it with poise, grace, humour, and aplomb. Her singing sounded wonderful, too! Great vibrato (especially for an 82 year old). You are missed, Miss Swanson! :)
Despite the language issue, this is one of the best interviews of Miss Swanson. This French gentleman put her at ease, and she clearly enjoyed herself. Her voice is amazingly good.
The interviewer did a wonderful job, what an intelligent man. He didn't miss a beat switching between English and French and understood her perfectly too
..I adored many stars of this era...MIss Swanson has a special place in my heart... no only did she have class. and talent....she was also a truly a nice human being...
I found a copy of "Swanson on Swanson" a few years ago. With her autograph on it!! It's dedicated to "Jean Claude" a fan who met her I guess. It's incredible to put my finger on this words, written by her own hand... I fancy I can feel the energy of the Lady... It's one of my greatest treasures...
What a great post ! I realize she was unique and seemed so adorable. She was here 82 and how gorgius she was. I love when she sings, so charming, this marvelous song I didn't know. Great great moment with this legend ! Thousands of thanks !
She made tons of pictures and was a star at the beginning of the century, then nowbody cared about her anymore with the entrance of the talkies....then she made one film again when she was 50 and was famous for the rest of her life and became immortal too.....very cool.
@@christophepena2212 That work was excellent, especially when it was done. I know she had a rhinoplasty when she started in pictures and had a massive face-lift by the time "Sunset Blvd". was filmed ( 1950 ). I assume it was her first. Her skin glowed and had a wonderful luminosity always. I am certain she knew exactly what products to use. You are correct, you cannot look that wonderful at that age without a skilled surgeon...
Awesome written by you. These comments RU-vid can only enrich our knowledge of the things that always SLE liked all of this great artiska Gloria Swanson
I'm just wrapping my head around the fact that this star from the silent era was doing singing in Paris in the post star wars era and in the year Raiders of the lost ark came out. It's insane
What an incredible woman! Progressive extraordinary charisma a health advocate decades before it was fashionable articulate funny and a shrewd business woman. No doubt today if she were still alive she would be rallying against GMOs and probably directing pictures.
A legend and a lady. She was nice even when the host was terribly rude and unpolite interrupting her every and single minute. She cannot complete a simple phrase, WTF!! But still a memory of the golden era of Hollywood.
He wasn't rude , he actually is the gentlest TV host on french television. He is consistently praised by all stars ( including international ones) for his warm welcome and going out of his ways ( he and his longtime producer, Mrs Françoise coquet) to make artists feel at ease on his set and in the wings in preparation for the show. Here , he is simultaneously conducting the interview, listening to her answers and translating on the spot for the french audiences. Any foreign language translator knows how tough an exercise that is! You try it and then, you'll speak. He is actually showing much respect to this legendary star if you are any knowledgeable about french and french intonation. He is actually under her charm! I saw the show at the time ( I was nine!) and god, do I miss those days in france and the way it was back then. She actually came back to the show, this time with her daughter!
Frank Gonzalez My mother was a childhood friend of her daughter . Gloria Swanson, a great friend of Gaylord Hauser, the famed Nutritionist. Also , her nutritionist was Henry Bieler . However, Gloria had seven facelifts!
@@marjoriemargel1567 Very true !!! She had very good work, but certainly "did visit the surgeon". When she started in films, she had a rhinoplasty. I know before she did " Sunset Blvd", she had a massive face-lift.. I almost forgot about Gaylord Hauser !!!
@@marjoriemargel1567 her Bio says she only had her eyelids done. I'll have to take her word for it since neither of us were there. Her healthy looks can be attributed to her macrobiotic diet. Her and bill dufty, her husband, both wrote, "Sugar Blues".
You can see the pull lines from her lifts . She definitely , had more than one facelift . She also stopped wearing her hair back because the scarring by the ears had to be noticeable . Still , a youthful 82 year old but she's had surgery . Doesn't matter because she was blessed with good health. You can look like a goddess but it's worthless if you can't get out and about . Gloria was out walking and doing daily activities. Until the day she died or pretty damn close. She had an active " romantic " life into her 80's . Her last partner was half her age ! 😉
I'll say. She lived through the Flappers era, Hippies era, Disco era, and Michael Jackson era (Thriller & Billie Jean). I always had that curiosity of what people from the 20s thought about the 60s, 70s, and 80s myself.
@@frodo322 it depends on what you like. Her films were shown all over the world. In France, for example "Nero's Weekend" sold almost 600K tickets which was incredible for a 56 year old Gloria Swanson! It was Bridgette Bardot's first movie so they definitely did not go to see her. She did Killer Bees in the 1970's, Three for Bedroom C and a ton of television appearances that ignited the ratings, which is why other shows kept booking her to appear! When she appeared in New York on Broadway in the 1970's, Butterflies are Free, according to Stephen Sharer, "she never left the theatre with less than $10K a week!". The public still loved Gloria.
"Madame Sans Gene" may still be discovered one day: Gloria's film with Valentino, "Beyond the Rocks" was lost for many decades during her lifetime. It was discovered long after her death, and restored. One can now get it on Blu ray.
You can see that the host is being rude to her in the beginning. He tries to fondle that necklace he keeps making a big deal about, and you can see she tries to push his hand away. She even resorts to grasping his fingertips at one point. Then he asks her age. Dude wtf?! GS remains classy brassy and sympathetic as ever. The more I learn about her the more I like. And I'm for sure getting that book!
I'm reminded of a French interview with Lauren Bacall. The interviewer rattled off French at breakneck speed and poor Betty, not understanding a word, could only say "Wee."
@@marjoriemargel1567 What are you talking about , he only made a slight mistake of not much consequence on the general meaning and left out a big sentence because he couldn't keep up with the pace. You try ask questions, listen to the answers and translate simultaneously on a tv set while keeping the timing of a show and then you'll talk. Michel Drucker , a legend of french TV to this day , is actually the best-loved french host by most international stars who consistently praise him live and on the spot for his warm welcome and his ( and his longtime female producer's) going out of his ways to make sure stars feel at ease on his set ( and in the wings).
He did. Only you don't speak french. It's a tough exercise conducting an interview in a foreigh language and translating on the spot for the audience while keeping an eye on the pace and the timing of a primetime TV show. You try it!
