Greta Garbo - Fifth of 5 Postings

Our fifth and final post in this series will contain only one quote from Garbo, and we will let the images speak for themselves.

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When asked in her later years by a fan if she is Greta Garbo, she replied, "I was Greta Garbo."

A note here: The 25 postcards shown in this series represent less than half the Greta Garbo cards produced.

These next two images are from the book "The Man Who Shot Garbo - The Hollywood Photographs of Clarence Sinclair Bull.", released by Simon and Schuster in 1989. There are over 180 photographs of the major stars of the twenties, thirties and forties (Bull was the head of MGM's stills department for nearly forty years). If you are a fan of the era, or of just good portrait photography, I recommend you locate a copy for yourself. I got mine from Alibris at a very good price.

Publicity still for Anna Christie (1929)

Publicity still for The Kiss (1929)

Greta Garbo - What do you think - Allure?

Greta Garbo - Fourth of 5 Postings

"The New Movie Magazine" was published by Tower Publishing for direct sale through the F.W. Woolworth chain of five and ten cent stores. As near as I can tell, the publication had about a seven year run, but if anyone knows definitively, let me know. "The New Movie Album" was their annual issue and featured approximately 60 stars for a given year. The album seen here, featuring Garbo on the cover, is from 1930.

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The New Movie Album, 1930 - Cover Artist: Signed, but I can't find any reference.

Garbo appears on page 32 and we are given a brief bio, as was the case for all the stars included in the album.

The back cover of this album is an ad for the magazine and certainly holds a high opinion of itself.

Now the images and quotes.

I live like a monk: with one toothbrush, one cake of soap, and a pot of cream.

I don't want to be a silly temptress. I cannot see any sense in getting dressed up and doing nothing but tempting men in pictures.

The story of my life is about back entrances, side doors, secret elevators and other ways of getting in and out of places so that people won't bother me.

There are many things in your heart you can never tell to another person. They are you, your private joys and sorrows, and you can never tell them. You cheapen yourself, the inside of yourself, when you tell them.

You don't have to be married to have a good friend as your partner for life.

Greta Garbo - What do you think - Allure?

Greta Garbo - Third of 5 postings

This post gives us a peek at Garbo's Swedish retreat, courtesy of Movie Mirror magazine, the January 1933 edition.

And now onto Greta's images and quotes.

If only those who dream about Hollywood knew how difficult it all is.

Anyone who has a continuous smile on his face conceals a toughness that is almost frightening.

If you are blessed, you are blessed, whether you are married or single.

This (Hollywood and filmdom) is where I have wasted the best years of my life.

There seems to be a law that governs all our actions so I never make plans.

Greta Garbo - What do you think - Allure?

Greta Garbo - Second of 5 postings

A bit of Garbo trivia. Greta is pictured on a 37¢ USA commemorative postage stamp issued September 23, 2005, five days after her 100th birthday. On the same day, Sweden issued a 10kr stamp with the same design. The likeness on the stamps was based on a photograph taken during the filming of As You Desire Me(1932).

Garbo quotes and images.
Click on the images for a larger view.

I wish I were supernaturally strong so I could put right everything that is wrong.


Is there anything better than to be longing for something, when you know it is within reach?

Every one of us lives his life just once; if we are honest, to live once is enough.

There are some who want to get married and others who don't. I have never had an impulse to go to the altar. I am a difficult person to lead.

Being a movie star, and this applies to all of them, means being looked at from every possible direction.You are never left at peace, you're just fair game.


Greta Garbo - What do you think - Allure?

Greta Garbo - First of 5 postings

We all know her full name, but to fans and the general public from the twenties through today, it is simply Garbo. No other actresses so quickly garnered the attention that grew around Garbo. Some thought her too aloof, others worshipped her on screen presence and performances, all wanted more information about her private life than she was willing to share, and time has not lessened the enigma that continues to fascinate to this day. Those who want her biography need only enter Garbo into their search engine.

This series of posts will simply contain images of Garbo along with quotes she made throughout her career. I should add that when I post images of actresses from our postcard collection, I often pick the images I feel are the most alluring based on my own bias. In Garbo's case, none were deselected.

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I never said, 'I want to be alone.' I only said, 'I want to be left alone.' There is all the difference.

I'm afraid of nothing except being bored.

There is no one who would have me - I can't cook.

Life would be so wonderful if we only knew what to do with it.

Movie Mirror, December 1931 - Artist: John Ralston Clarke

Greta Garbo - What do you think - Allure?

Asides: Earl Christy Was On A Roll In Early 1932

F. Earl Christy (1883-1961), who has been mentioned on this blog in the past, was one of the most prolific illustrators of the early half of the twentieth century. Christy studied commercial art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His work was found on or in practically every movie magazine published in the 1920's and 30's and in advertisements, sheet music, postcards and general publications as early as 1906.

He was particularly busy providing covers for Photoplay. I generally like the work he did for Photoplay, but occasionally he seemed to miss the mark in capturing the essence of his subject - probably because he was turning out so much work. I am sure at the height of the depression it was rare that he turned down any assignment.

However, I think the first three Photoplay covers of 1932 are wonderful examples of his best work. The colors are vivid, the expressions of the actresses capture their allure, and the easy, yet stylish approach are a pleasure to view. Click on the images for a larger view.

Photoplay - January 1932

Photoplay - February 1932

Photoplay - March 1932

And if you are wondering "How Garbo's Fear of People Started" - well guess what, some came from what we hear about everyday now, paparazzi, though that term wasn't yet coined in 1932. From the article, "Every time Garbo tried to take a quiet walk in Central Park she was dogged by reporters and cameraman."

For a bit of history, here two Christy postcards from 1906.