A Filmmaker's Guide to: Greta Garbo

In this chapter of ‘the filmmaker’s guide’ we’re actually going to be learning about literature and film together. I understand that many of you are sitting in university during difficult times and finding it increasingly hard to study and I understand that many of you who are not at university or not planning on it are possibly stuck of what to do, need a break or even need to catch up on learning film before you get to the next level. This guide will be brief but will also contain: new vocabulary, concepts and theories, films to watch and we will be exploring something taboo until now in the ‘filmmaker’s guide’ - academia (abyss opens). Each article will explore a different concept of film, philosophy, literature or bibliography/filmography etc. in order to give you something new to learn each time we see each other. You can use some of the words amongst family and friends to sound clever or you can get back to me (email in bio) and tell me how you’re doing. So, strap in and prepare for the filmmaker’s guide to film studies because it is going to be one wild ride.

Greta Garbo

Who was she?

A Swedish actress born in 1905, Greta Garbo was often regarded best for her hyper-realistic acting skills, her amazing natural beauty and her dark and tragic characters. She was one of the few actresses who made a near-perfect transition from silent film to sound film in the 1920s and 30s and she is still remembered for her subvertive leading women roles. Having settled into early retirement in 1941, Greta Garbo often lived in complete seclusion from friends and family, being regarded as often isolated and moody - she simply did not like the company of others.

Greta Garbo's films have lived on for long after her retirement in 1941 and death in 1990. She has been regarded as one of the first ladies of cinema and one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hollywood. Her extreme attention to detail with her characters and her ability to evoke such complex emotions via expression and body language shows in her films and makes a great case for her consideration as one of the greatest actresses to ever live.

What was she known for?

Her most brilliant movies, and there are many, have often been fought over by critics trying to pinpoint the key moments and most difficult characters of her career. I have chosen two that I would like to include out of the many I have seen.

Anna Karenina (1935)

One of my favourite books saw Greta Garbo portray the eponymous protagonist in this fatal drama of love and loyalty. Though a lot of the book was seemingly missed out (for obvious reasons, it is very very long), Greta Garbo gave the portrayal all the true complexity of Anna Karenina. When you watch the film, you can really feel the true spirit of Anna as this conflicted, often unlikeable, often wronged and often doubted character who just wants happiness - but wants it at whatever cost. It is possibly the best portrayal of any character in her entire career.

Mata Hari (1931)

Noted as her highest grossing film, this is an amazing role for Greta Garbo to play. Based on the real life dancer and spy, this role is a complexity masterpiece that toes the line between spy/crime thriller and romantic love story. The nature of the film allows Greta Garbo to explore serious depth and there are many close-ups to her facial expressions, her as the focus of the shot in which she is presenting us with her often tense and jittery body language in comparison to the fluidity of the dancing. This is an absolute acting masterpiece and should be regarded as such. Clearly one of the greatest roles of the 30s for any actress.

Conclusion

There are obviously other great films: "Queen Christina", "The Painted Veil" and "Anna Christie" are amongst some of them. Greta Garbo being one of the first realist actresses is the best possible truth I can give you. Her acting is absolutely out of this world.