|
Unrealized Projects 1930-1934 |
|
|
| |
| |
ROMANCE - GERMAN LANGUAGE VERSION (1930)
Director Jacques Feyder was signed to direct two Garbo pictures in German. The first one was Anna Christie and the second one was Romance.
Arthur Loew, vicepresident of Loew's Inc., had recently announced that MGM was budgeting $2 million for foreign-language versions.
Only the German version of Anna Christie materialized.
No other infos are known.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
UTA VON NAUMBURG (early 1930s)
A rumor form a Swedish magazine was, that someone plans a film on Uta's life with Garbo in the lead. No details are known.
German icon of beauty, Uta.
SOURCE: Swedish magazine
|
| |
LADY FROM THE SEA (early 1930s)
Garbo said that she suggested and begged Mayer to make a film version about Ibsen's famous play but Mayer declined.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
NORA / A DOLLS HOUSE (early 1930s)
Garbo said that she suggested and begged Mayer to make a film version about Ibsen's famous play but Mayer declined.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
STAGE PLAY BY PRINCE LENNART (early 1930s)
There was a rumor that Lennart Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg (formerly: Lennart, Prince of Sweden and Duke of Småland), wrote a script for Garbo.
It was for a stage play and he wrote it especially for Greta.
No details are known.
SOURCE: Swedish Gossip Magazine
|
| |
DAS WEIB IST EIN NICHTS (early 1930s)
In the early 1930s, MGM tried to turn this scandalous German 1929 novel (English Translation: This Woman is a "Nothing") by Mela Hartwig into a Garbo feature film.
No details are known.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
TOSCA (1930)
Berthold Viertel (husband of Salka Viertel) wanted to produce a film version of the opera Tosca, without Music and with Greta in the lead.
Viertel also considered Somerset Maughan to write the screenplay . Nothing turned out.
SOURCES: GARBO Book
|
| |
RED DUST (1930)
This famous Jean Harlow/Clark Gable movie was first planned to be made in 1930 with Greta Garbo and Adolphe Menjou.
Adolphe Menjou
After finishing Romance and the German version of Anna Christie. Red Dust is based on a play by Wilson Collison.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
RED DUST (1931)
MGM wanted to re-team Garbo with Gilbert for the film. The film was planned to be shot straight after Inspiration was finished.
John Gilbert
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
GARBO ON NBC RADIO SHOW (USA 1931)
American newspaper and radio commentator, Walter Winchell had wanted Garbo to say “Hello!” to his listeners on his Christmas Eve NBC radio show.
But Garbo faded to respond.
Walter Winchell
SOURCE: Garbo book |
| |
THE YOUNG EAGLE (1931)
Mercedes De Acosta offered Garbo the idea to make a film version of the Edmund Rostand play – L'Aiglon.
L'Aiglon was the nickname of Napoleon's son, Napoleon II of France. The name is French for "eaglet" (a young eagle) and the Edmond Rostand play is about Napoleon II.'s life.
I think Mercedes also had her own play in the mid 1920s based on the novel but in her story, Napoleons son was in fact a daughter, dressed and raised up as a boy.
A French film was made in 1931.
ALTERNATIVE TITLE: L'Aiglon, Napoléon II., Napoleons Son
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
DESPERATE (1931/32)
Mercedes de Acosta was eager to write a script for Greta. One day Thalberg gave his okay and Mercedes started writing a screenplay. Some time later she gave him her finished script, entitled Desperate.
The heroine is a confused soul named Erik Chandler. Her father (Sloane) is an American diplomat living in Paris; he is divorced from her mother (Erika), who was the daughter of the Norwegian ambassador to the Russian Imperial Court. As the story begins, Erik is going home to be with her mother on her eighteenth birthday.Her father delays her departure and her distraught mother – believing she has been deserted.She jumps into the nearest fjord (hanging on just long enough to die in Erik's arms).
A vengeful Erik begins her reckless adult life. She is beautiful, polished, arrogant, wild and now irrevocably estranged from her father. When her companion, Toto, is killed in a club in Harlem, Erik disguises herself as a boy to avert a scandal and leaves town.
A scripted montage shows Erik making a spiritual ascent. She giving up her old habits and purifying her life, in making herself into a boy. he is shedding her skin as it were and she dissolves her whole identity. She winds up in a swank gambling club in Mexico City, dressed in immaculate and perfect evening clothes. Her hair is brushed straight back and varnished into smoothness. Her face is a mask, her hands slim and white and beautifully cared for. She is many times more a subject of interest among the feminine gamblers.
Than the great wheel she operates with such superb dexterity. Each woman feels there is some unfathomable mystery in this beautiful, pale, Shelley-like boy – that no one can move to talk. They think her eyes rarely leave the game, has never been seen to smile and is indifferent and disinterested in the life round him. Everyone wonders about him but her luck has changed.
“Once I was afraid to be alone with myself, now I no longer have that fear – and I am not lonely – ever”, Erik says.
She is last seen in Wyoming as a “pretty new cowboy,” able to tame wild horses and men. Old wounds heal after an old lover reappears. Erik wins a dramatic life-and-death struggle at the rodeo with the fiercest black stallion this side of the Mississippi.
Great Story but Irving Thalberg turned Desperate down. He thought that it sounded too uncommercially and he prefered to do Luigi Pirandello's play As You Desire Me with Garbo next .
SOURCE: Karen Swenson – A LIFE APART
|
| |
THE STORY OF GEORGE SAND (1931)
Mercedes suggested Thalberg another film idea for Greta.
The story of George Sand, the nineteenth-century French novelist. She was a brilliant, provocative writer, Sand (in real life a member of the French aristocracy) would be remembered for her bohemian lifestyle, fondness for cigars and masculine attire.
George Sand also had a series of scandalous affairs. Most notably, with poet Alfred de Musset and composer Frédéric Chopin.
ALTERNATIVE TITLE: George Sand
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
LADY OF THE CAMELIAS (1931)
Already in 1931,Thalberg asked Mercedes to work on an adaptation of Camille for Garbo.
No more info are known. I wonder how her version of the famous Dumas novel would have turned out.
Thalberg also asked Mercedes to work on the 1935 screenplay for Camille.
ALTERNATIVE TITLE: Camille
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (1931)
Talking about possible films, Greta told Mercedes about her interest in playing the title role in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. A role in which she would not “pass” as a man but really play a man.
Mercedes responded: “You go and tell Irving that idea and have him throw you out the window – not me!”.
I'm not sure if Greta wanted Mercedes to write the script.
SOURCE :GARBO book
|
| |
GERMAN DUB FOR SUSAN LENOX (1931)
For years some German fans were repeating a rumor that MGM wanted Garbo to synchronize the film for the German market. No details are known.
SOURCE: unknown |
| |
GERMAN DUB FOR MATA HARI (1931)
For years some German fans were repeating a rumor that MGM wanted Garbo to synchronize the film for the German market. No details are known.
SOURCE: unknown |
| |
GERMAN DUB FOR GRAND HOTEL (1932)
For years some German fans were repeating a rumor that MGM wanted Garbo to synchronize the film for the German market. No details are known.
SOURCE: unknown |
| |
GARBO AND BEATON PHOTOSESSION (1930-1932)
During a trip to Los Angeles in 1930, celebrity photographer Cecil Beaton had spent a considerable amount of time pursuing Garbo for a possible Vogue sitting; but the Metro publicity department offered him Joan Crawford or Norma Shearer instead.
By 1932, studios sought Beaton out to arrange special photo sessions with their top stars but still no Garbo.
SOURCE: GARBO book |
| |
RED DUST (1932)
In late 1931 this project was again offered to Garbo now to star with Clark Gable. The Film was planned after Mata Hari but some sources also write it was planned after Susan Lennox.
Clark Gable
MGM really wanted to pair Gable and Garbo again but the script underwent drastic re-writes and after Garbo declined, the role was re-cast with Jean Harlow.
The final production of Red Dust.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THREE WEEKS (1932)
A project considered for Garbo's after As you desire me.
Based on a novel by Elinor Glyn ( 1864 – 1943). Elinor was a British novelist and scriptwriter who pioneered mass-market women's erotic fiction. She was the celebrated author of early 20th century bestsellers as It , Three Weeks, Beyond the Rocks , and other novels which were then considered quite racy, as tame as they might seem now.
A silent film was made in 1924. It starres Aileen Pringle and Conrad Nagel. Why Garbo never made the film is unknown.
Elinor Glyn
The plot: The Queen of Sardalia is in a bad marriage with the brutal King Constantine II. She decides to get away from her normal life for a period and goes on vacation to Switzerland. Here, she meets Paul Verdayne. They have an affair, which lasts for three weeks.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THE PAINTED VEIL (1932)
A project considered for Garbo's after As You Desire Me. Garbo made the film in 1934.
Garbo made the film two years later
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THAIS (1932)
A project considered for Garbo's after As You Desire Me.
Thaïs was a famous Greek hetaera (courtesan) who lived during the time of Alexander the Great and accompanied him on his campaigns. Thaïs first came to the attention of history when, in 330 BC, Alexander the Great burned down the palace of Persepolis after a drinking party. Thaïs was present at the party and gave a speech which convinced Alexander to burn the palace.
Why Garbo never made the film is unknown.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
CONGAI (1932)
A project considered for Garbo's after As You Desire Me. Based on a mid 1920s stage play. Garbo would have played Thi-Linh. Why she never made the film is unknown.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
SUN OF ST. MORITZ (1932)
Based on Paul Oskar Höcker's Die Sonne von St. Moritz.
The plot: Garbo would have played Gertie Selle, the wife of a seriously ill older man. Tending to the husband's needs is Dr. Robert Frank who falls in love with Gertie. When the wife administers a fatal overdose of medicine to her husband, Dr. Frank – correctly suspecting that she has committed murder – elects not to report the particulars of the death. This turns out to be a big mistake later on, when Gertie attempts to blackmail the doctor. The crisis seems to end with the death of one of the principals, but in fact it's only the beginning.
Why she never made the film is unknown.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THE LIFE OF JEHANNE D'ARC (1932)
Mercedes also hoped to do Jehanne D'Arc with Greta for MGM. It was her dream project and de Acosta told Thalberg: “I believe that Greta was worth much more than all the glamour and sex films she had been forced to play in. I had always wanted to see her play a peasant role in which she could brush her hair straight back off her face and wear simple clothes ... Nature is Greta's element”.
She told the producer that Greta should be allowed to play roles that were closer to the soil.Thinking of the simplicity, purity and drama of their stories, Mercedes suggested that the lives of several Catholic saints might suit her.
Mercedes delivered her notes on The Life of Jehanne D'Arc ,including her analysis of other dramatic works, to the story department. “I personally do not like the Shaw play, except for some passages but think the preface tremendously interesting,” she wrote.
Mercedes script was based on her own play – Jehanne de Arc. After hard work Thalberg informed Mercedes that Garbo didn't like the finished product and that they will not do the film.
Mercedes was unhappy and hurted most of all ‘cos Garbo didn't tell her personally but it is said that it may have been Mayers influence.He hated the thought that Garbo wanted to do the film without make up and with fully cut hair.
ALTERNATIVE TITLE: Jehanne de Arc
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
CATHERINE THE GREAT (1932)
This was also a story MGM considered for Garbo before they decided to do Queen Christina.
SOURCE: GARBO book |
| |
TERESA OF AVILA (1932)
Mercedes also approached Thalberg with other story ideas. She suggested the stories of Francis of Assini & Teresa of Avila. It is unknown if she started writing a script.
ALTERNATIVE TITLE: St. Teresa
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1932)
Mercedes approached Thalberg with other story ideas. She suggested the stories of Francis of Assisi & Teresa of Avila.
Aldous Huxley
It is unknown if Mercedes started writing a script on her own.
ALTERNATIVE TITLE: St Francis
SOURCE: GARBO book, News magazine
|
| |
RED-HEADED WOMAN (1932)
This was Jean Harlow's first MGM film. Many don't know that project was first offered to Greta Garbo. After she declined they wanted Clara Bow and later offered it to Joan Crawford.
The film was a full success for Harlow.
SOURCE: Internet
|
| |
DINNER AT EIGHT (1932)
MGM considered Greta for the Kitty part. They wanted to do another “full star Cast”, like Grand Hotel.
Garbo declined and the role went to Jean Harlow. George Cukor directed this film. It was premiered in 1933.
SOURCE: German Magazine 1938
|
| |
TRAGÖDIE EINER LIEBE (TRAGEY OF LOVE) (1932)
This is a very funny rumour out of a 1932 German magazine.
They wrote that Garbo will star next to Marlene Dietrich in a film based on the life of Siamese Twins.
SOURCE: German Magazine
|
| |
DIE SAGA VON GÖSTA BERLING (1933)
Another rumour from a German gossip magazine.
An unknown German film company wanted Garbo to make a film. A project they suggested was a remake of Gösta Berling Saga.
ALTERNATIVE TITLE: Gösta Berling Saga
SOURCE: German Magazine |
| |
SCHWEDISCHE NACHTIGALL (SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE) (1933)
Another rumour from a German gossip magazine.
Again an unknown German film company wanted Garbo for a film. They suggested to make a film, out of the life of Jenny Lind. Lind was a the Swedish opera singer, known was Swedish Nightingale.
SOURCE: German Magazine
|
| |
THE MATCH KING (1932)
The character of Marta Molnar is based on Greta. For the Film, Warner tried to loan out Garbo from MGM.
SOURCE: Internet |
| |
THE TORRENT (1932)
In 1932 Garbo didn't re-new her contract with MGM and due of this unresolved status at the big film company. Numerous articles claimed to know Garbo's next plans.
One said that she was planning to remake her silent film The Torrent (USA 1926).
No more are known.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THE TEMPTRESS (1932)
In 1932 Garbo didn't re-new her contract with MGM and due of this unresolved status at the big film company. Numerous articles claimed to know Garbo's next plans.
Another source said that she was planning to remake her silent film The Temptress (USA 1926).
No details are known.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
SALOME (1932)
In 1932, there was a rumor that had Garbo demanding $14,000 a week, producing her own version of Salome.
No details are known.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
WARNER (1932)
In 1932 Garbo didn't re-new her contract with MGM and due of this unresolved status at the big film company. Numerous articles claimed to know Garbo's next plans.
One rumor was that Garbo was going to sign a movie deal with Jack Warner' s major Movie company.
No details are known.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
BLACK OXEN (1932)
Jacques Feyder, the director of the German Anna Christie, considered this novel as a possible Garbo vehicle in 1932.
This Gertrude Atherton best seller is about a fiftyyear-old woman whose aging process is reversed by a mysterious ray aimed at her ovaries.
Another source wrote that Thalberg wanted to make this film with Garbo after As you desire me.
Adela Rogers St. Johns was going to write the script based on the novel. It is said that Garbo declined cos they wanted to start the production too hastily.
The novel was again suggested for a possible GG vehicle in the early 40s.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THE GARDEN OF ALLAH (1933)
Selznick suggested Greta Garbo in the lead role of his planned remake of a 1927 silent film. John Gilbert was considered as her partner. The film was made in 1936 with Marlene Dietrich.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THE PARADINE CASE (1933)
MGM bought the film rights of this Robert Hichens novel already, for Garbo in the early 30s. This project will be suggested as a possible Garbo film several times.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THE WHITE SISTER (1933)
This romantic love story was also offered to Greta. It would have been another starring of her and Clark Gable. After Garbo passed the role in this MGM production, which was based on a successful play, Helen Hayes won the role.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
JOAN OF ARC (1934)
The project was again considered for Garbo after Queen Christina was done but she did The Painted Veil instead.
SOURCE: GARBO book |
| |
JEZEBEL (1934)
David O. Selznick had MGM readers report to him with story ideas for Garbo. An August 1934 memo from story editor Kate Corbaley suggested Jezebel.
A film was made in 1938 starring B. Davis.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
MARY OF SCOTLAND (1934)
David O. Selznick had MGM readers report to him with story ideas for Garbo. An August 1934 memo from story editor Kate Corbaley suggested Mary Of Scotland. A film was made in 1936 starring K. Hepburn.
ALTERNATIVE TITLE: Mary, Queen of Scots
SOURCE: GARBO book |
| |
HAMLET (1934)
David O. Selznick had MGM readers report to him with story ideas for Garbo. An August 1934 memo from story editor Kate Corbaley suggested Hamlet (Garbo as Ophelia and Leslie Howard as the Danish prince).
But it was written that Garbo would only be interrested if she woul play the title role and not Ophelia.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
THE PARADINE CASE (1934)
David O. Selznick had MGM readers report to him with story ideas for Garbo. An August 1934 memo from story editor Kate Corbaley suggested The Paradine Case.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
GARDEN OF ALLAH (1934)
David O. Selznick had MGM readers report to him with story ideas for Garbo. An August 1934 memo from story editor Kate Corbaley suggested Garden of Allah.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
CAMILLE (1934)
David O. Selznick had MGM readers report to him with story ideas for Garbo. An August 1934 memo from story editor Kate Corbaley suggested Camille.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
SISTER CARRIE (1934)
David O. Selznick had MGM readers report to him with story ideas for Garbo. An August 1934 memo from story editor Kate Corbaley suggested Sister Carrie.
SOURCE: GARBO book
|
| |
A MIDSUMMERS NIGHT'S DREAM (1934)
In 1934, the great Theatre director Max Reinhardt went to America. His first desired project for Hollywood and MGM, was a film version of the famous Shakespeare play. He had a vision that Garbo should play Titania.
Max Reinhardt's dream cast:
Garbo (Titania)
Charlie Chaplin (Bottom)
Clark Gable (Demetrius)
Gary Cooper (Lysander)
John Barrymore (Oberon)
W C. Fields (Thisbe)
Wallace Beery (Lion)
Walter Huston (Theseus)
Joan Crawford (Hermia)
Myrna Loy (Helena)
Fred Astaire (Puck)
Nothing turned out and the film was made with a Warners instead of an MGM cast, and with Anita Louise instead of Garbo as Titania. Reinhardt never gave up. But he could never get the cooperation of Garbo, in particular, or Los Angeles, in general: despite its steadily i ncreasing population and fabulous pool of artists, theater simply never took root there.
SOURCE: Barry Paris – GARBO
|
| |
NAPOLEON (mid 1930s)
Chaplin had toyed with many ideas for films since he had begun makin features and during the 1930s many projects were planned to put into motion but not to get very far.
Chaplin appears in character as Napoleon for a
character
based photoshoot that took place in the mid 1930s.
One that didn't come to frution, though some meetings were held, was a Napoleon story, with Chaplin as Bonaparte, Garbo in the female lead and Jean Renoir directing.
Nothing turned out.
SOURCE: David Shipmen - The Great movie stars
Thanks to Georg |
| |
SALKA VALKA (mid 1930s)
Icelandic Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness particularly liked Garbo and wanted her to play Salka Valka
Salka Valka was Laxness's breakthrough novel and reflected his Socialistic views which marked his novels in the 1930s and 1940s. The story depicted a young woman, Salka, and a small fishing community. Evil enters into the community in the form of merchants and fishing entrepreneurs and is pitted against labor movement. The book gained a huge success in England and the The Evening Standard wrote that Greta Garbo would be the perfect Salka in its film adaptation.
Book cover
MGM showed interest in one of his "magnificent" scripts (Sakja Valka) that "will conquer the world" - about a silent, erotic, pipe-smoking, whip-wielding woman who becomes a ship's captain, whom he imagined being played by Garbo.
When the studio wanted to move the setting from Iceland to Kentucky, he threw in the towel. "Here it is not possible to do anything with genius. What they ask for is idiocy."
SOURCE: GARBO book |
| |
TRISTAN AND ISEULT (mid 1930s)
Swedish magzines wrote that Garbo will star in a film version of this legend. No info is known.
Tristan and Iseult as depicted by Herbert Draper.
The legend of Tristan and Iseult is an influential romance and tragedy, retold in numerous sources with as many variations. The tragic story of the adulterous love between the Cornish knight Tristan (Tristram) and the Irish princess Iseult (Isolde, Yseult, etc.), the narrative predates and most likely influenced the Arthurian romance of Lancelot and Guinevere, and has had a substantial impact on Western art and literature since it first appeared in the 12th century.
SOURCE: magazines
|
