Greta Garbo and The Controversial Film that Ended Her Career 

Having grown up in New York City I had a run-in with the Great Greta Garbo it was on November 3, 1978 I was waiting to cross Fifth Avenue and 57th street it was at 2:30 PM, as I stood waiting for the light to change someone came up and was standing very close to me, I turned to glance who it was and to my complete surprise it was an older woman who looked directly ahead then in a instant I recognized that it was Greta Garbo. (I was 19 and all ready a film fan) Lucky for me I was wearing sunglasses so I could look at her without giving myself away it must have been 60 seconds as I looked and marveled at her when the light changed and she was gone walking fast across Fifth Avenue. I still remember seeing Garbo for just 60 seconds like it was yesterday. Garbo was wearing a trench coat and hat Garbo blended in with the crowd if it wasn't for her to stand so close to me I would never have looked up to see her.

Haven’t watched this full vid yet but I gotta say that I absolutely love these new thumbnails! They’re classy, simplistic, well composed and professional looking. Kudos!

"Recurring villain of the channel, Archbishop Francis Spellman..." lol

It amazes me how Garbo's abrupt (well, not so abrupt) end of her film career turned into everyone else's career advice. "Garbo knew when to go." Did she? This video shows that it really wasn't up to her to go away, it was the times and the studio who failed her. I love how Garbo remained a mystery for the rest of her life. The way she maintained a fairly private life is exemplary.

I'm that sim with her baby on fire saying “not now baby bkr just uploaded”

I still get blindsided every time someone mentions how old an actress was when she retired. Thirty-six?? Really???

A wonderful neighbor friend of mine (now passed away) lived in NYC for many years, and had several "Garbo sightings" during her time there. Greta Garbo loved to take daily walks, to enjoy the fresh air and window shop, so it was not unusual to see her around and about in Manhattan. One night my friend went to one of the movie "art houses" where "Camille" was being shown, and just as the lights were dimmed, and as the film started, she saw Garbo slip in and take a seat in the back row. My neighbor friend was seated nearby and immediately recognized her even though GG had disguised herself a bit (wearing a hat and scarf). Greta left just before the film's end. (This was in the early 1960's).

the patron goddess for us introverts

Another brilliant and insightful addition to your channel; you've really given a lot of thought to Garbo's career. But it should be noted that NINOTCHKA was an example of MGM trying to ensure Garbo's success, and it had the classic example of "stunt casting": to play the Grand Duchess Schwana, MGM hired the theater star Ina Claire (who had done a number of movies in the early sound period, including THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR THEM and THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BROADWAY). The reason this was stunt casting... to use a modern analogy, it would have been as if Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie agreed to costar in a TV series. Because when Garbo called off her wedding to John Gilbert, he decided to go to New York, where he impulsively married Ina Claire. That was his rebound wedding, and it didn't last long, but it was certainly very widely publicized. Now, this proves how ephemeral this type of publicity is, because the connection of Garbo and Ina Claire is no longer mentioned in discussing NINOTCHKA, but it was certainly a factor in the publicity of the film in 1939.

Garbo did laugh and smile before Ninotchka. Especially in Camille. Her performance was warm and endearing which only made everything more tragic the way the film ends.

BABE WAKE UP BKR POSTED

There used to be wonderful little movie theater in Manhattan called Theater 80 Saint Mark's Place. They showed classic double features. My very first night in NY, the first time I visited it (February of 1990), my mother and I went there to see Grand Hotel and Ninotchka. The theater was packed. 34 years later, I remember the laughter. It really is a hilarious movie when you watch it with an audience. The moment that got the biggest laugh was when Garbo asks Douglas, "Must you flirt?" He replies, "I can't help it, it's my nature." She then says in a total deadpan, "Suppress it." The audience exploded in laughter and applauded. I've never forgotten that retort and say it often. Anyhow, I feel lucky that the first time I ever saw Greta Garbo movies was in the theater, on the big screen with an audience, the way people did in the 1920s and '30s. That's the best way.

I passed Greta Garbo crossing Central Park. My heart stopped.

We need a CLARA BOW video. Out of all the Silent Stars I've learned about, her story has fascinated me the most.

Once as a young teen in the 1970s walking with my father in mid-town Manhattan he pointed his umbrella in the direction of someone walking ahead of us and said simply 'GARBO'. I remember that rainy evening like it was yesterday.

❤ In the late 1970's i went to Paris. My grandmother was a huge Dietrich fan and being a naive teenager i mused hiw wonderful it would be to see Dietrich. Alas no Dietrich but when we visited Napoleon's Tomb who did i see standing looking down at the Emperors tomb, Garbo. Standing there with no one aware of her but me. When she saw me staring she put her finger to her lips as if to say shhhhh. She smiled and quickly disappeared. Last year i visited her building. Thank you for a great video!

Great video as usual, just one minor issue: Marie Curie was polish and she kept her polish name Sklodowska while married to Pierre Curie. I mention this because eastern europeans tend to lose their easterness when they move and work in a western country. For instance, Greta Garbo remains swedish even though she became word wide famous after moving to USA while polish Marie Curie moves to France and all of a sudden becomes french. As a eastern european, i find this very annoying. Sorry for the rant 😅. Like I said, I really liked the video and I appreciate the channel!

Great video, just one sidenote at 9:43, Marie Skłodowska-Curie was actually Polish

LOVE the Garbo tragedy spreadsheet.

Garbo's hairdo in Two-Faced Woman looks like a 1930's version of big 80's hair

As a kid it was a Garbo movie that got me into Black and white movies, began my luv for cinema. To this day anytime I see a best of all time actress/actor list and she’s not on it, I just chuckle and discount its validity.

I think Billy Wilder never got over Garbo. In The Major and the Minor, there's a bit where Ginger Rogers character claims to be Swedish and when asked to say something in Swedish she says "I want to be alone" in an affected deeper voice.

I AM TODAY YEARS OLD finding out Greta wanted to play St. Francis of Assisi (and Dorian Gray???). We were robbed.

Love the channel if you ever get the chance please do a video on Clara Bow I would love to hear more people talk about her

Amazing video, all's fun and games but Maria Skłodowska-Curie was Polish and believe me you don't want Poles finding out you claimed she's French 💀💀💀

the brief mention of hedy lamarr reminding me of her tech accomplishments! i’d love a video on her career

GARBO Talks is a great film. Ann bancroft plays a dying fan who just wants to meet Garbo...

FINALLY!!!!! We’ve been blessed with Greta Garbo!!!!! 😭😭😍🥰💕🥲

I love love love my silent screen queens and I am so grateful that people still make videos on them! The first time I watched Flesh and the Devil I was automatically addicted to the Garbo persona! I would be over the moon if you did a deeper dive on her career.

When I was a child, growing up in Hungary they did show all of Garbo’s talkie movies on tv in chronological order going backwards. They started with Two Faced Woman and finished with Anna Christie, so this is the first film I have ever seen of hers. She seemed so modern to me… I did like it then and still like it today. It’s still a pleasant film for me to watch…

I have been waiting for a Garbo video!!! Thank You 💙

Here's a fact probably few people know in 1935 Selznick was going to do "Dark Victory" and he chose Garbo to play the dying socialite but Greta chose "Anna Karenina" instead so the project was shelved until Warner released its version in 1939 with Bette Davis playing the role that once could've been Garbo's what I always find funny about her that she being swedish she played european women of different nationalities like dutch in Mata Hari or russian in Ninotchka and also I feel that some of the early talkies she did like Susan Lennox,As You Desire Me,Inspiration,Romance are so underrated also Garbo's original talkie debut was going to be The Hollywood Revue of 1929 but Thalberg decided that Anna Christie was a better project than The Hollywood Revue perhaps he was right because The Hollywood Revue flopped at the box office

I love Garbo and this is a great video-I enjoyed your content immensely. The presentation and your detailed explanations are spot on. I appreciated how layered the narrative is, providing context and insights that are actually quite funny. The remark about how Two Faced Woman unfortunately cast Garbo in an Irene Dunne role, and how you begin to feel sorry for her made me laugh…..you definitely are not wrong! Thank you for sharing your superb analysis!

Fun fact about Greta is that she was a big Michael Jackson fangirl. “He is handsome and so musical, I never miss seeing him on television if I can help it. What a star he is!”

Great insights, previously unexplored, into the failure of Two Faced Woman. I think you're right on the money that the loss of Thalberg, his wise handling of great stars and material and Mayer's total control of production sounded the death knell of many studio greats. Mayer hated the Marx Brothers and stuck them in bloodless, run-of-the-mill slapsticks like "At the Circus", "Go West" and "The Big Store" without great writers. The Little Rascals died when Roach sold them to MGM in 1938 and they became the bland, well behaved "Our Gang" and Laurel & Hardy tanked with the dismal "Blockheads". Yes, Garbo did have a hand in the failure but think you're right it's folded into the bigger problem of post-Thalberg reduction of Metro into a family-friendly factory. Only Lubitsch was able to dodge the bullet with "Ninotchka", praise be.

ive been waiting of ra Garbo video since I found your channel. im so excited for you to cover more of my mid-20s hyper fixation!

You read the quiet part out loud when you described the formula used on Garbo for over a decade...and while it's fascinating to watch her, there IS a sameness to her films, yet with an expectation of being captivated by what she does again. And of course SHE never disappoints. In this age of InstaGram influencers saying anything all the time to be looked at, or Madonna who's going through her Late Elvis Stage, it's amazing how THAT face, and THAT talent were matched with such an intensely private woman who didn't want the world to know her...only her images she gave the screen. This video was terrific. Thank you. (you may also be interested in the book "Greta and Cecil" about her relationship with Cecil Beaton, unlikely as that pairing sounds)

BKR GARBO VIDEO OH ITS CHRISTMAS

The clip with Dick Cavett is Raquel Welch, not Greta Garbo, who was thirty years Garbo's junior at the time. Garbo never did any TV talk shows.

Queen Christina is one of my fav films! I can't wait to see your vid on it.

I loved the cinema culture of the late '70s and early '80s when I was a young film buff and could see Garbo on the big screen in arthouse cinemas on projected 35mm like she ought to. I saw Camille and Grand Hotel and Queen Christina that way... the latter film blew me away. Thanks for not letting the legend die.

She's always been an enigma in the hollywood entertainment history world lol. Clearly despised being a celebrity, yet, really enjoyed the art of acting; and was good at it too! Sadly this just doesn't really work I think longterm. Like no way could u have a "Garbo" exist now with every celeb having to promote on their socials and being sponsors for [insert product here] and so forth. She also is a rare example of "letting go" when the time was right. Unlike Joan Crawford and Bette Davis who acted practically their whole lives, Garbo, called it quits when the time came and never looked back. It was a solid career and she is very much remembered. I know lots can argue Garbo knew what she was signing up for when becoming an actress, but I truly don't think many can understand the pressure of stardom unless it happens to them.

Omfg yes!! How did I open this 8 seconds after it was uploaded? Also I have been WAITING for a Garbo video!! Thank you

Maria Skłodowska-Curie was Polish. So disrespectful.

The fact that the clip from “Death Becomes Her” of Isabella Rossellini saying “I want to be alone” is not used highly upset me

Another great video! I always look forward to your uploads. Also side note: Greta Garbo had fantastic eyebrows.

Reminds me of Streep in the 80's! As wonderful as she was (probably the best decade in her career), many people couldn't stand her because of the suffering of her characters. She reinvented herself too in her middle age as a comedienne in much lighter movies.

I love your videos on classic Hollywood actresses of the 20s, 30s, 40s & 50s. 😊 Please make more videos on classic Hollywood ladies! ❤

Greta Garbo was a celebrities’s celebrity and it's so interesting.

another flawless video from my favourite channel! I dread the day you call it quits!!

What a coincidence, today I was listening to an interview with Gore Vidal talking about her. It was the first time I heard someone talk about her as a friend

Garbo was an actress ive waited patiently for! Now Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, Norma Shearer and Janet Gaynor!

30:03: Tiny little correction: Thalberg died in 1936, not '37, during the production of Camille which would be released later that same year. Amazing video as always!!!

Greta Garbo was certainly a visionary. She basically sensed a disturbance in the force that indicated she was heading toward the end of her dominance in Hollywood. Had she stuck around longer she would have found herself competing against younger actresses who could fully embrace the changing times. There was no place for her in the version of Hollywood that was coming so she did the right thing and gracefully bowed out. The best way to end any career is on your own terms, while you are still at the height of your powers. It is better to leave that way than being forced out in disgrace. The sad thing is Greta spent the rest of her life as if she was in exile. Becoming sort of like Obi Wan Kenobi, an old hermit with a legendary past.

Thanks for your nuanced discussion of Two-Faced Woman (and Garbo's career prior to and after its release); it really isn't good, and more importantly, Garbo isn't good in it, and your discussion of the reasons why are especially helpful. The loss of Irving Thalberg can't be overstated in MGM's (and classic Hollywood's) history. I've been waiting for you to talk about GG, and I'm thrilled you got around to her. Xo

So good! As ever. Yours is by far the best classic cinema YT channel 🙏🏼

6:34 FINALLY someone who exaggerates “take it with a grain of salt” properly. I’ve seen so many RU-vidrs say stuff like “take it with a massive grain of salt” when saying to dismiss something and it’s like no that’s not how that works. Thank you

Not now, honey, BKR just posted a video about Greta Garbo. 🤩

Immaculately researched and articulated by Izzy Custodio, as ever, though on this occasion she disappoints in her lack of appreciation for this film, which remains one of my favourite comedies of the 1940s (admittedly a decade in which the studios faltered in the laughs department). Aside from the tedious skiing sequences, this is a very tickling watch, and with Garbo's myriad special qualities intact. Her portrayal of a (benignly) duplicitous character allows for her world-weary-satirical and romantic-fatalistic side to flourish, with Melvyn Douglas spot on as her foil. And Custodio forgets to mention Constance Bennett's hoot of a performance (an all-time best), especially when paired with Garbo. Ruth Gordon doesn't get much to do...but at least it's Ruth Gordon! Garbo's knowingly deadpan answering of the phone ("Hallooooo") outshines anything in NINOTCHKA, I feel. It's a bit too easy condemning this imperfect but very pleasing movie - a bit like toeing the party line. But given Custodio's formidable CV, I will move on from this...as long as I get to have my rant.

I love this one!!! I always found it intriguing about her last film and in what her motivations were to leave Hollywood. Thank you for giving me answers. Keep up the good work as always!!!

"I really love my job, but I don't want to do it that often." -Greta Garbo, actually

After two faced woman, I don’t blame Garbo for never wanting to step on set again!

Let me guess, the archbishop again didn't actually watch the movie

Two-Faced Woman would have been a great project for Lucille Ball. I could totally see her chewing up all those scenes, especially if she had to play her own twin sister.

Before I start the video (as I can only assume you are referring to Two-Faced Woman): this film is actually great fun. Will never understand why people have maligned and hated it for so long. I expected it to be trash after years of hearing it turn down in theory, biographies and most accounts of the time and Garbo’s life. But it feels like a nice lil screwball comedy to me. The snowy environments feel cozy and Garbo is actually warm and funny. Also sidebar: so wild seeing the stars of Hal Ashby’s two best movies in a different time and era, occupying the same frame of film. Like Ruth Gordon and Melvyn Douglas had no idea two of their greatest roles were decades in front of them under the competent direction of the same man. Such a fun lil film nerd but of coolness.

I've been waiting for a Garbo video since discovering your channel. I wish MGM could have given her more interesting roles, and she had several interesting ideas herself that often involved playing men. Oh to be in the universe where she played Dorian Gray....

Watched the full video, and I wanted to mention something: "Ninotchka" was one of the favourite films of director Peter R. Hunt. If you don't know who that is, I don't blame you, but knowing you're THAT sort of cinema buff, I suspect you do -- but, if you the general reader don't, he was an editor, second-unit director, and film director on the first six Janes Bond films; he directed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", widely regarded as being one of the best films in the ENTIRE series, and his creative stamp, and the films and filmmakers he loved and which influenced him, lie heavy on that film. He adored Terrence Young, Hitchcock, Ross Hunter -- and "Ninotchka". He sneaked several moments into "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" that you'd immediately recognise after you'd seen "Ninotchka" as calling back to that film -- not just moments, but full-on line quotes! And I can't let it go unsaid that he was a queer artist -- a heck of a thing, to work oneself up the ladder from a lower-class background to become a film editor, to second-unit director, to full-on director of epic films, all while being gay and not having it affect his career at ALL. And he's been gone 22 years now, and, while I never met him, he's a big damned hero of mine, and it is a criminal SHAME that he didn't get to live to see people reappraise his work for the beauty it holds and the mastery that it is. I feel as though bekindrewind could take a good look at it. :-)

You should include Garbo in your "Second Best Actress" series

Everyone should be loved by someone who looks at them the way Melvyn Douglas looks at Greta Garbo in Ninotchka.

Another great video! NINOTCHKA is a masterpiece and Garbo is absolute perfection!

20:03 =... I don't get it... I may be catholic, but plot itself ain't that scandalous... The most sin you get from this is dishonesty but "does not respect marriage"??? Are you kidding me???

Lucille Ball was very popular and very loved, and a good actress, she was the girl next door... and then, unattainable to humans, there was the star.

I love Garbo so much and this video absolutely made my day!

GGs exit: You might note another Swede, Ingrid Bergman, also hit the screen in early '40s!! For GG, it was time to go.

Maria Skłodowska-Curie was Polish, not French :)

Used to see her all the time on the Upper East Side in the 70s. Her 'disguise' (which never varied all that much) was oddly enough more of a 'look at me, I'm Greta Garbo' costume. She was regular enough in her habits and routes, too, so that although you could not exactly predict when and where she would be, you stood a decent chance of seeing her if you knew her general habits.

off topic, but i want to address the fact that Ninotchka is about russian girl. so logically it's a russian name. it's a short version of a russian name Nina, so it must be pronounced with emphasis on the first consonant (Ni'notchka, not Nino'tchka). also "t" is silent, in russian version it's not even there, idk why americans added this letter :) i know it's how it sounds in the movie but since i'm russian myself, i had to chime in because it just drives me crazy :) also i think the main reason why Garbo had to leave cinema was very simple: times changed and she no longer was new and exciting. yes she proved herself as comedic actress in Ninotchka, but she raised to fame as some kind of European enigma. it was her niche, she was unique. in 1930 USA had quite a fair share of beautiful talented comedic actresses. she wasn't unique anymore. at that time Katherine Hepburn already proved herself as a versatile actress who could do almost everything Garbo could and couldn't. Vivien Leigh and Hedy Lamarr became new European sensations. Lana Turner started her series of hit movies. And they were younger (i know it sounds awful, but that was the reality of those times). When Garbo laughed in Ninotchka, it was new. When she laughed in Two-faced woman - not so much. People saw her new side but it obviously wasn't enough for them. So yes, her time simply ended. I think she could gracefully shift into more mature roles, like Hepburn did in her 40s-50s. But she decided to leave, and maybe it was for the better.

Garbo is eternally fascinating. Can’t wait to see more on her 😊❤

You touched on the fact that the early 1940s were very different to the 1930s and l believe that was the main reason Garbo didn’t return to the screen. MGM signed Hedy Lamarr who was born a little too late and they simply didn’t know what to do with her, she would have fitted more easily into the 1930s woman of mystery category and her Hollywood career was a great disappointment to her. Garbo didn’t fit into the 1940s zeitgeist. To a lesser extent the same was true of Norma Shearer who didn’t want to accept roles that suited her age and understandably was unwilling to see her name slip down the cast list. Garbo may not have intended to end her career but it proved to be a wise move, she didn’t need the money having invested well and her overall body of work is still well regarded today. Garbo has been able to retain her unique place in cinema by getting out of it before MGM was able to dismantle her reputation

THE video i have been waiting for! Thnx ❤

I've only seen Grand Hotel, but fwiw, I thought that performance kind of sucked. I'm not just hating. Granted, acting from the 30s rarely ages well, and it looks even more stylized because styles have changed so much - but that goes for Garbo in GH, what can I tell ya. She's hammy and corny and cheesy. I saw none of her supposed subtlety or eroticism. Partly because she's playing an annoying character, I guess - Lionel Barrymore has the same problem. Joan Crawford's performance ages a lot better - she just seems less stagey, but only next to Garbo's carrying on.

George Cukor also directed Norma Shearer's final film "Her Cardboard Lover," which was also a critical and commercial failure at the box office. I wonder if a similar video will be made on that same topic.

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why is it so difficult for Americans to pronounce "nEE- nouch-ka" … the English can put the emphasis correctly on the First syllable "Nee" … But the Americans just simply cannot!

My favorite elective classes in college were my film studies classes. Your videos always make me feel like I’m back there, only my chair now is much more comfortable :)

My favorite Garbo film is Mata Hari❣️ Now, I’ve seen her be wonderful, but in Grand Hotel she was terrible… sorry

Thank you for such great attention to the goddess. Garbo is everything , up till that final film. The line is " I want to be let alone" something different in meaning. 💜💜💜

10:01 "No pretty girl would ever study chemistry or physics," is even more laughable given Hedy Lamarr

I fell in love with that face when I was a kid, sixty years ago, when I saw Anna Karenina, and I've never grown weary of seeing her. A lot of her movies creak and groan at this late date, but there's always that face, her voice, and technique granting us a few memorable moments. I can't see her working effectively in any films during WWII, but I've always felt that she would have been glorious in a postwar film noir. You've inspired me to blow the dust off my Garbo dvds and escape reality!

Of all the movie Stars since the medium's inception, Garbo will always remain at the top of the list. She was admired not only by the public, but by her co-workers and Stars of equal status. Something not easily attained by any Hollywood Star. As far as the Academy Awards go, since "the slap heard round the World" a few years back the Ceremony is just not worth watching any longer. The magic is gone. One might say that was "the night the movies ended".

I saw her in Joyless Street, Camille, Ninochtka and Queen Christina... I fell in love her...

I am so glad to have bumped into this video like when I did considering not only am I planning on eventually doing a video on a Ninotchka, but I'm literally trying to put the finishing touches on my first major video essay, and Be Kind Rewind you were a major influence on me finally deciding to take the plunge

0:54 I had never seen these pictures before and I have to say it’s so weird seeing her in normal modern clothes

Greta has always been a my personal favorite along with Katie, Audrey and Maureen O'Hara. There will never be another Garbo, tho. I would love to see a video about her early days. I always think it's better to go out on top.

Garbo was wise to call it quits in 1941, if she had continued in films she would have destroyed her own uniqueness. The Beatles are another example of calling it quit at the right moment. It seems timing is everything, especially when it’s time to exit.🤔

youtube recommended this video, and now a subscriber; clear storytelling and i love the citing of references with book covers and quotes... kudos!

I always felt she should have gone back to Europe.

For me Garbo was the greatest of them all. She acted with her eyes so it didn't matter if they were talkies or not. She had a massive X factor.

great video! please do more Garbo content❣

Enthralling and informative as usual. That being said, I HATE the positioning of those clips in Garbo's hair. It seems they're re-positioned at some other point in the film and it still looks stupid. A séance needs to be held for Sydney Guilaroff, because I wanna have a talk.