The USA has added 25 movies to the National Film Registry, which seeks to ensure the classics will be preserved for future generations. The 2007 list also includes Grand Hotel with Garbo, Library of Congress head, James Billington said in a news release.
The Librarian of Congress — Billington's official title — picks the movies on advice from the National Film Preservation Board because they are deemed to be "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant. Once named, the library moves to preserve them, either through its own preservation program or by collaborating with other archives, studios and independent filmmakers. The preservation effort is necessary because old movies are deteriorating.
"Up to half the films produced in this country before 1950 — and as much as 90 per cent of those made before 1920 — are lost forever," Billington said.
We wanted to pass along our best Christmas wishes to all Greta fans. We value your support and thank you for your continued readership, support and friendship of this website. We look forward to serving you in the new year. Happy holidays to all Greta fans.
Lets "Elf" and "Scrooge" with David Lee's special Greta! Click the pictures.
Expert from a “Christmas letter” Garbo wrote in 1935 to her friends in Tristad (Sweden)
“...it is Christmas and I would like to wish you all a very specially happy Christmas, since I can't be with you.
When you go off to drink the first mulled wine of the season, don't forget that I want you to drink my health. Don't forget ……..because even if I'm not watching you, the heavens are.
Only one God. He created everything out Of one spirit – we are all one. And God is love. Don't laugh (I'll explain when we see each other). Happy Christmas to everyone...."
Click HERE and leave some words or flowers for Greta!
Garbo festival at the À l'action Christine in Paris
Nakis, our GarboNews man, just found out there is a Garbo festival (unfortunately only this week: December 19 - December 22, 2007) in Paris (France) at the cinema Action Christine. The festival is called: Garbo “La Divine”.
They show the following films:
Dec 19 - Ninotchka
Dec 20 - Mata Hari
Dec 21 - As You Desire Me
Dec 22 - Susan Lenox : Her Fall and Rise
Garbo “La Divine” - Extrait du Dictionnaire du Cinéma (Éditions Larousse)
Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, dite Greta (Stockholm 1905 – New York 1990). Naturalisée américaine en 1951, elle est, avec Chaplin sans doute, la personnalité la plus universellement célèbre du cinéma.
Garbo demeure l'archétype absolu de cet étonnant phénomène sociologique que fut la star , si exactement définie par André Malraux: une star est "une personne dont le visage exprime, symbolise, incarne un instinct collectif" , "une femme capable de faire naître un grand nombre de scénarios convergents...comme les créateurs de mythes inventèrent l'un après l'autre les travaux d'Hercule".
Sa beauté fut légendaire (on vérifia sur ses traits le nombre d'or) et sa “mythologie”, issue de ses films, alimentée tant par la publicité des studios, les rêves des admirateurs, les fables des journalistes, que par le soin farouche qu'elle mit à tenir secrète sa vie privée, fit d'elle aussi une figure de légende, un symbole vivant: Sphinge du Nord, Divine, Femme fantôme, Mademoiselle Hamlet.
Son éloignement volontaire des écrans à 36 ans, en pleine lumière, a préservé jusqu'à nous l'aura magique de son personnage. Magie d'autant moins contestable que, trois fois sur quatre, elle transfigure des scénarios, et parfois des mises en scène, qui sans Garbo seraient au bord de l'inepte.
We love little Garbo-ish games and plays on the Garbo-Board. Two weeks ago our Annie (aka Garbo20) started a Garbo fan art comeptition. The theme was: Garbo and Pepsi Cola. More Info HERE!
Here are some of the results:
The winner of Annie's first competition is announced:
The fans voted and the winner is this picture made by RubyRed (aka Anna Maria from Italy).
Next Competition:
Write a story about GG traveling in time to this year.
Thanks to Garbo 20 (Annie)
December 16, 2007
Garbo tribute song gets remixed and re-released!
The 2005 released song My Greatest Greta, by French Pop group 3 Cold Man will be re-released in Januray 2008.
3 Cold Men were formed in late 1999. Their major influences are running from the britannic Cold-Wave down to the French and German Electro-Gothic styles from the 80's and 90's. Their musical style is known nowadays as Retro Wave.
The song My Greatest Greta first appeared on their 2005 released album Urban Rmxs. From 2005-2007, they performed the song several times live and the audience loved it. In the lyrics they mention words like Divine, Flesh, Torrent, As you desire me, Queen Christina and the song sounds a bit like New Order's Blue Monday.
In November 2007 the A merican band DATA-BANK-A, did a special remix for My Greatest Greta (Garbot Radio Days Edit). This remix is exclusive track for download only and will be released in January 2008 and is the first single from their new album Photogram.
You can hear a remix (The 3cm's Dubious Dancing King 54 Rmx) HERE!
December 14, 2007
Garbo wins online voting!
Some weeks ago, the German magazine Bunte asked their online readers which Hollywood actress they want to see pictures from?
It was a very exciting voting poll: 36,3% voted Garbo on number one, 35,2% voted Marilyn on place number two and Laetitia Casta, with 22,5%, got the third place.
For her new film, Atonement (USA 2007), English film and television actress, Keira Knightley "studied" Garbo's smokin' style.
Garbo smokin' in Anna Christie
Garbo's Smokin' style
Knightley's character is almost always smoking in her new movie. "What we were trying to do was really go back to that very 1940s style of filmmaking, and you go back to any of those films and it's a cigarette on the go the whole time," she said. "Greta Garbo, I watched a lot for her cigarette action. She has a great way of holding it. And there was some fantastic Bette Davis butt action as well."
We thought you would like to know that London auction house Christie's is going to sell this famous Garbo drawing ink on paper by French artist Rene Gruau (1909-2004).
The drawing is called Greta Garbo en reine Christine was made around 1950 and they estimate 12,000 - 18,000 USA $.
Our Annie (Garbo20), has updated and re-created her Garbo Links section. Its full of interresting websites, blogs, channels and more, all dedicated to the Divine one. See HERE!
Thanks to Annie
December 8, 2007
New „Garbo“ inspired fashion line by Wolfgang Joop!
For his new autumn/winter (2007/2008) fashion collection, the internationally successful German fashion designer Wolfgang Joop takes a journey to the Berlin era of the 1920s.
Joop said that his new collection is inspired by Garbo and director Pabst 1925 classic, The Joyless Street. More Info HERE!
The look of tomorrow!
"Its the look of tomorrow", said Joop. The collection is inspired by Pabst classic silent film The Joyless Street with Greta and Asta Nielsen. "Thats how the 'City Girls' of yesterday looked", said Joop.
A big Greta fan, Niéri, send me this great piece of work, mixed with Madonna's 1994 tune, Inside of me. I think its very intimate and sensual and i had to post it here.
Tribute to Garbo with music by Madonna
Thanks Niéri
December 4, 2007
A "Garbo Angel" package, for the christmas season.
A special edition of Grand Hotel has been released in Germany on November 11th, 2007. It is called Menschen im Hotel - Best Picture Edition (Special Edition).
In 1933 Grand Hotel won an Oskar for Best Picture! More Info about the film HERE!
Molly of Molly and Sonny Boy send us her impression of Garbo singing this classic American christmas song. What if Garbo sang Frosty the Snowman? Molly realizes it in her imagination and in this YouTube video.
Frosty the Snowman
Molly and Sonny Boy
Molly and Sonny Boy are a unique singing-songwriting and podcasting duo from New Ulm, Minnesota (USA). Their musical niche is one that they have dubbed "Rhythm and Blues-Grass. Sonny Boy is A medical Doctor (ER) and a Molly is a Radio DJ.
The highly-skilled Minnesota recording artists and multi-instrumental singer-songwriters who love to share their creative voice in a unique and unusual way. They hope you will enjoy their music during the holiday season whether you purchase one or both of their CD's.
Enjoy the Molly and Sonny Boy Christmas Show CD this holiday season. They feel all music-lovers will savor their unique interpretation on some old familiar favorites.
Many more little but interresting things have been added this very cold and depressing month. Special thanks to Werner, Gianni, Nakis, Isaura, Annie, Theo, Meri, Miss G, Patrick, Jean-Charles & Fabbienne and all the crazy Garbomanicas for their contributing support, friendship, critic and info.
As always, TJ & J.
December 1, 2007
New Queen Christina DVD released!
Garbo's 1933 released film, Queen Christina, will be released as a new exclusive DVD-Edition for the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The film is part of a series called: SZ Cinemathek Traumfrauen and will feature female legends such as Ava Gardner, Romy Schneider, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and many more.
Well, not really. This DVD cover is "fan art by TJ " but it could be possible that the film will be released on DVD in the near future but we need your help!
Two-Faced Woman DVD
Please help and sign our two Garbo fan petitions to get Two-Faced Woman and more Garbo films on DVD!
Click HERE and HERE!
Thanks to Nakis and Mark
November 28, 2007
Never-before-screened Flesh and the Devil version?
Just an info about a screening of Flesh and the Devil at the San Fransisco Silent Film Festival. They talk about a new, never-before-screened 35 mm print, from the Library of Congress. What could this be? If you have any more details please get in contact with us.
Our friend Audrey has a new "Garbo MySpace page" called The Swedish Sphinx.
I think its worth to check out the work of Garbo's Number one fan! Anyone who is interested in finding out about "the divine vortex" hang around and you might get sucked in.
New scene from Greta's advertising film How not to Dress discovered!
We just discovered that another scene from Garbo's small advertising film Herrskapet Stockholm ute på inkop excist.
This was a small advertising film for the Stockholmer department store - PUB. The film is mostly known as How not to Dress, as this was the title of the segment with Greta. You can find more Info HERE!
Greta models for the PUB - Video
Den gudomliga (The Divine) short film!
"How not to Dress" and "Our daily Bread"
The Swedish Cooperative Union (KF) is the member association for Sweden's over 60 consumer associations and their 2.9 million members. They added a short film on their website called Den gudomliga (The Divine).
Den gudomliga does include three scenes of Garbo's 1920 and 1921 Swedish promotional/advertising films. See HERE!
November 18, 2007
New Mata Hari movie in production!
Ninety years after her execution for espionage, Mata Hari remains a byword for female treachery. Garbo played Mata in 1931 and it was one of her most successful American films. English director Martha Fiennes is going to make a new film, starring Dita Von Teese, about this notorious seductress in a very different light.
Garbo as Mata (USA 1931)
Mata Hari's - real name was Margaretha Geertruida Zelle - she was originally a spy for the French during the war and acted as a courtesan to many high-ranking allied military officers. In 1917, she was accused of providing information to the Germans and was subsequently executed in France.
The real Mata Hari
American style icon and burlesque queen Dita Von Teese will star as exotic dancer and World War I double agent Mata Hari. The 35-year-old Teese has signed up for the lead role in this biopic about the tragic Dutch star, who was executed by a firing squad after being exposed as a double agent during World War I.
Popular dancer and pin-up model - Dita Von Teese
Martha Fiennes said that Teese is perfect for the part and that she has written the script but it will probably need some developing, so we can not expect filming to start for another eight to ten months. You can can find more Info about the project HERE!
November 17, 2007
Wonderful Garbo screen-saver!
This is a special gift, Susan from classicsavers.com, made for the GarboForevers. I hope you will like it. It's an amazing piece of work, with beautyful Garbo Portraits and touching piano music!!
Sweden 's oldest department store, known as the PUB, gets a new image this winter. Nina Persson, lead singer form Swedish pop-group, The Cardigans, helped to turn the store into a hip fashion house.
Greta at the PUB
PUB, named after the initials of its founder Paul U. Bergström, first opened its doors in 1882 and Garbo worked there as a sales girl in the 1920s before becoming the Hollywood legend. More Info HERE!
Alle wollen Greta Garbo sehen! Funny new Garbo stage play in Germany
From all the many Garbo stage plays (New York, Paris, Budapest etc) we had and will have this year, the beautyful, 1920s & 1930s Jazz inspired, German Theater "Glorreich" (in Düsseldorf), is giving us the funniest one.
Garbo lives!
Alle wollen Greta Garbo sehen! (They all want to see Greta Garbo!) is the orginal title and will premiere on November 8. The Synopsis is very funny and cute. I am working on the text by now.
The theater is in Düsseldorf down town
The show starts at 19.45 (German time) and will repeat on 15th and 23rd of November. More Info HERE!
Thanks to Juliane Strizewski
November 6, 2007
Garbo at TCM - November 2007 schedule!
Turner classic movies will screen three Garbo's films and the great 2005 Documentary in November!
Garbo Facts - in Italian by Anna Maria
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to RubyRed)
Unrealized Projects 1945-1949: The Black Narcissus, etc
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Patrick)
Garbo's film partners: Constance Bennet and Henry Daniell
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Greg)
Garbo's Grave: Video file of Garbo's funeral added
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Bea)
Garbo Stories: Garbo' s Taormina vacation
(Trivia) Click HERE! (Gianni)
Garbo's Musical's and Stage plays
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Zoltan, Jean-Charles and Peggy)
Garbo Candids and Private picture Gallery
(Gallery) Click HEREand HERE! (thanks to Eddie and Dave Lee)
Garbo Video's: many new candid clips, reports added in the Video section
(Media) Click HERE! (thanks to Javier)
About 200 large Garbo movie stills: A gift from Dr. Macro
(Gallery) Click HERE! (special thanks to Jerry)
Garbo's childhood and family pictures
(Gallery) Click HEREand HERE! (thanks to Fabbiene)
Garbo Press articles: Many new press articles are added
(Media) Click HERE! (thanks to Eddie)
with love TJ & J.
November 3, 2007
Please vote for Garbo's films to be released on DVD!
Check the Turner Classic Movies website and see the polls. TCM sends its poll results to DVD distributors, and with enough votes selected titles get distribution.
Please click the picture and vote for Garbo at TCM!
The Joyless Street
Current Rank: 420 Votes: 3
The Torrent
Current Rank: 243
Votes: 183
Love
Current Rank: 264
Votes: 160
A Woman of Affairs
Current Rank: 312
Votes: 111
Wild Orchids
Current Rank: 318
Votes: 105
The Single Standard
Current Rank: 321
Votes: 105
The Kiss
Current Rank: 296
Votes: 127
Romance
Current Rank: 300
Votes: 123
Susan Lenox: Her Rise And Fall
Current Rank: 313
Votes: 110
As You Desire Me
Current Rank: 156
Votes: 342
The Painted Veil
Current Rank: 215
Votes: 216
Conquest
Current Rank: 273
Votes: 151
Two-Faced Woman
Current Rank: 121 Votes: 436
Please also do not forget to sign our DVD petitions HERE and HERE!
Thanks to Swingdancingred
November 1, 2007
Very rare Garbo movie stills from Hollywood by GarboWerner!
Joyeux Noël Mademoiselle Garbo (Merry Christmas Miss Garbo) is a new French stage play written by H. Bernard Omnes and Ph. Villiers.
The play focuses on Garbo's life after her career and on the telephone conversations between Garbo and her friend teh art dealer Sam Green.
This amazing piece of work will premiere in Paris/France at the SACD - House of the Authors, on November 19, 2007.
Zazie Delem plays Greta Garbo, Anna Gaylor as Garbo's maid Claire Koger Nicolas Djermag as Sam Green.
More Info about Joyeux Noël Mademoiselle GarboHERE!
Garbo's Phone Conversations with Sam Green
The phone Conversations by Garbo and her friend, the art dealer Sam Green are taken from the Barry Paris book "Garbo".
Those conversations, from the early 1970s to mid 1980s were tape-recorded and transcripted. In the early 1990s writer Barry Paris started working on his book "Garbo".
It was the first time that the tape-recorded conversations were published in a book. The rights belong to Sam Green and the Greta Garbo Estate.
It is said that there are 100 hours of taped phone conversations between Garbo and Green and some other interesting persons. All of all of those conversations were transcribed and are in possession of Barry Paris. The high points and the important conversations are included in his book.
Not included in the book are rather "boring" conversations like conversations about food. Green informed Garbo that, as an art dealer working out of his home, he routinely recorded all phone calls.
Garbo made no protest. The original tapes are placed at the Cinema Archives of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut/USA.
One Million Dollar Auction of classic Glamour Photographs!
For the first time in public a uction history, over $1,000,000 of "Pre-code" 1920s and 1930s Hollywood glamour photography will be made available for auction.
On November 7 and 8, Profiles in History, the world's leading dealer of authentic Hollywood artifacts presents over 1,000 fine art photographs featuring history's most legendary actresses including Greta Garbo.
These classic photographs – the greatest assemblage of its kind – were shot by legends in their own right including George Hurrell, Clarence Sinclair Bull (head of MGM's still department for nearly 40 years) and Ruth Harriet Louise, who as the first woman photographer active in Hollywood, ran Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's portrait studio from 1925-1930, bringing to life the most glamorous and sexy female stars of their era.
This will undoubtedly be part of the worldwide bidding which begins at 12:00 noon both days. Bids can be placed either in person, in advance via mail, phone, fax or live over the Internet via eBay Live Auctions
Cause Halloween is soon, I thought I'll make this month a more "dramatic" package... oh, and forgive my funart thing there, which means this month no colored picture.. and I also didn't make a banner anymore, cause I think it's really useless to create them.
Another legend of the classic cinema has left us. Deborah Kerr (1921–2007) was a Golden Globe award winning and six-time Academy Award nominated Scottish actress. Kerr suffered from Parkinson 's disease and died on October 16th, 2007.
Deborah Kerr
Kerr and Garbo
Kerr was married to Peter Viertel, the son of Garbo's best friend Salka Viertel. Kerr and Viertel even contributed to the Barry Paris book - Garbo.
Garbo was very fond of Peter and Kerr. They married in Klosters (1960) and lived in a big hillside house, surrounded by fir trees, south of town.
Kerr was a friend, Garbo never lost. Kerr's quiet, thoughtful ways always charmed her. She was married to Peter Viertel, the son of Garbo's best friend Salka Viertel.
Rest in peace Ms. Kerr.
Kerr about Garbo
"She could be so funny and had such a wonderful way of knocking herself," remembered Kerr, whose lilting soprano voice downshifts at will into a perfect imitation of Garbo's baritone.
"Once in the late afternoon, we were about to have a glass of wine and I asked, 'Miss G, would you like red or white?' She gave me the most tragic look and said, 'Ooooh, De-bo-rah – that is a terrrrible decision!'”
"You never knew with her, whether she was sending you up or not. Peter, on the other hand, was never deferential. He would say, 'C'mon, Greta – just make up your mind!'"
Greta died 1990, in New York. Part of Garbo's estate was sold in an 1990 Sotheby Auction. It was called: The Greta Garbo Collection. The Auction was held on November 15, 1990 and t wo of her Renoirs alone brought $11.6 million.
Three paintings out of Garbo's collection are for sale again. The auction starts on Nov 8, in New York. Click HERE for more Info!
New Garbo stage play based on Greta and her friend Mimi Pollak
This new stageplay,Garbó, is based on Tin Andersén Axell 2005 released book, Djävla älskade unge! Andrea Fullajtár, one of the most popular Hungarian actresses, is playing the role of Garbo.
Andrea Fullajtár
The play will premiere in Budapest/Hungary on 21th of December and is directed by Erika Szántó.
In 2005, the book Djävla älskade unge! by Tin Andersén Axell and Mimi Pollak was released in Sweden. The book is about Garbo's letters to her friend Mimi.
The book
More info about Garbo and Mimi HERE and more Garbo musicals and stage plays HERE!
Thanks to Zoltan Zubornyak and Elisabeth
October 1, 2007
Very rare Garbo movie stills from Hollywood by GarboWerner!
An USA radio program special was held for Garbo's 102th birthday. There is an extensive interview with Garbo's nephew Scott Reisfield and lots of insights on Garbo the actress and icon.
Get Nici's great Garbo package of the month, dedicated to The Tempress. A great piece of work. It does include: banner, scan, avatars, wallpaper and a big colorized photo!
Our divine woman would have turned 102 years old today. Click HERE for a great article about Garbo's birthday!
One Hundred and Two years ago.... On September 18, a Monday evening at 7:30 PM in Stockholm/Sweden, Greta Lovisa Gustafsson was born at the Södra Maternity Hospital. Baby Greta was 52 centimeters long and weighted 3.5 kilograms. The family had many financial problems....Read more HERE!
Visit Garbo at Find-a-Grave.com!
Click HERE and leave some words or flowers for Greta! R.I.P. GG
September 18, 2007
"Garbo: The Bio-Pic": Coming in 2008?
A big Garbo feature film? Many Garbo fans wonder if it will really happen. IMDb (Internet Movie Database), listed the project as "in production".
Allround talent Buddy Bregman will write, direct and produce the big feature project. It's the behind-the-scenes, personal sexually driven story of this incredible lady as seen through her romances with John Gilbert, Marlene Dietrich (??), Cecil Beaton (homosexual), and a mysterious Latin female screenwriter.
Buddy Bregman
This is going to be a look at one of the world's most emotionally complicated, individualistic and self contained personalities of all time. Her whole life was dedicated to her personal freedom and independence to the confusion of all. She explored her inner world through her unique love life.
My Moment of Intimacy with Greta Garbo - by Susanna Estrella
Susanna Estrella is an accomplished writer, translator and poet who has received different awards for her writing achievements. In the late 1970s or early 1980s, she had one encounter with the woman that fascinated millions…Garbo.
Garbo Facts - in Dutch by Isaura Kerkhofs
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Isaura)
The Films of Alva and Sven "Garbo"
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Werner)
Garbo Doubles
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Greg)
Garbo related Films and Documentaries
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Fabbie)
Camille and Ninotchka colorized
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Jean-Charles and dreamer)
Garbo's Beauty
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Werner)
Garbo's Musicals and Stage Plays
(Trivia) Click HERE! (thanks to Michelangelo Alasa, Festat and Rahel A. Fischer)
Garbo's bibliography
(Media) Click HERE! (thanks to Dreamer)
Garbo Video art - by Jean-Charles
(Trivia/ Garbo Art) Click HERE! (thanks to Ciccione)
Garbo museum
(Trivia) Click HERE! (special thanks to Rune Hellquist and Nakis)
Garbo Videos
(Media) Click HERE! (thanks to Louis)
Garbo IRIS postcards
(Media) Click HERE! (thanks to Werner)
Garbo collectables
(Media) Click HERE! (thanks to Annie and Werner)
with TJ & J.
September 11, 2007
New Swedish Garbo book: Greta Garbo och den döde mexikanen
It's a fictitious novel and was released in June or July 2007. You can get the book HERE!
The book
Written by Olov Svedelid for Bokförlaget Forum (publishing company) Visit Garbo's bibliography HERE!
Thanks to dreamer
September 11, 2007
The Single Sstandard screening at Filmstaden in Sweden
On November 19, 2007, the Gamla Filmstaden i Solna (Svensk Filmindustri's multiplex theatre) will screen En kvinnas moral (The Single standard), with Garbo and Nils Asther.
Actress and entertainer Debbie Reynolds opens this season's Friend of the Institute ecture series at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Ms. Reynolds will speak about her remarkable collection of film costumes.
Reynolds is quite known for one of her greatest interests: Collection Hollywood costumes. Ms. Reynolds has been collecting for more than 30 years and has amassed more than 3,200 costumes.
The collection also includes an ensemble worn by Garbo. It is not known which one.
The lecture opens October 11, 2007, Minneapolis at the Institute of Arts The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA).
