Garbo Films Revived

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 2

Garbo Films Revived

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, Sept. 3. Thousands of nostalgic film fans in New York—mostly middleaged women are flocking to see films made by the actress, Greta Garbo, up to 45 years ago. The enigmatic Swedish-born star became a legend when, tired of the film world and public adulation, she retired in 1941 “to be alone,” after making 27 films iq 19 years, all but three in Hollywood. More than a quarter of a century later. Miss Garbo, aged 62, still unmarried and living a secluded life in New York is still a star and showings of her films are certain successes In June the New York Museum of Modern Art announced plans for the first complete retrospective season of Garbo’s career, dating back to her debut in Sweden in

1922. All 12,000 tickets were snapped up in four days. This response and dally queues waiting for last-minute returned seats convinced the museum that the two-week festival should be extended by four weeks until late this month.

The films trace her entire career, from a one-minute promotion film made when she was still an unknown 15-year-old sales girl in a Stockholm store, to her exit in “Twofaced Woman” at the age of 35.

Of special interest to film historians has been her first major role in the 1922 silent Swedish drama, “Gosta Berlin’s Sala,” two years before she went to Hollywood and changed her name from Greta Gustaffson to Greta Garbo. Several of the films are either being seen for the first time in America or have not been shown for more than 30 years. The Belgian Royal Film Archive and the Czecho Slovak Film Institute have both loaned copies of the films

not available in the United States. At each showing, Garbo’s screen entrance is applauded by her adoring fans. Garbo Fashions The festival has brought a rash of press articles about her, and five of New York’s top couturiers are including Garboesque outfits in their autumn collections. The festival, coupled with publication of a portfolio and an exhibition of stills from Garbo’s films, has not attracted large numbers of young people, as do re-runs of films starring the late Humphrey Bogart and James Dean.

But there is always the possibility that the flamboyant Garbo fashions will spark off some reaction among fashionconscious young American women.

Meanwhile, Miss Garbo is occassionally seen walking alone on fashionable New York avenues, hiding behind large, floppy hats and dark glasses.