Garbo Talks (1984)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writer:

Larry Grusin (written by)

Release Date:

12 October 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Sometimes you can catch a star...

Plot:

The son of a woman dying of a brain tumour tries to fulfil his mother's last wish - to meet Greta Garbo.

Plot Keywords:

Jail | Brain Tumor | Greta Garbo | Photographer | Mother Son Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Anne Bancroft	...	Estelle Rolfe
Ron Silver	...	Gilbert Rolfe
Carrie Fisher	...	Lisa Rolfe
Catherine Hicks	...	Jane Mortimer
Steven Hill	...	Walter Rolfe
Howard Da Silva	...	Angelo Dokakis
Dorothy Loudon	...	Sonya Apollinar
Harvey Fierstein	...	Bernie Whitlock
Hermione Gingold	...	Elizabeth Rennick
Richard B. Shull	...	Shepard Plotkin
Michael Lombard	...	Mr. Morganelli
Ed Crowley	...	Mr. Goldhammer
Alice Spivak	...	Claire Rolfe
Maurice Sterman	...	Dr. Cohen
Antonia Rey	...	Puerto Rican Nurse

Also Known As:

Garbo Talks! (UK)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Fire Island, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

The second film in which Anne Bancroft and Steven Hill play a married, or once married couple, the first being the The Slender Thread (1965).

Goofs:

Continuity: The construction worker (Mr. Electric Tongue!) has his pop can in his right hand and a sandwich in his left. In the next shot, they are each in the other hands.

Quotes:

Estelle Rolfe: If your head's in the toilet, don't blow bubbles.

Movie Connections:

References Mata Hari (1931)

Looking for Greta

This film brought to mind our own encounter with the elusive Ms. Garbo one afternoon as we held the door open for her at the 59th St. entrance of Bloomingdale's. Ms. Garbo could be seen around her East Side neighborhood, where people didn't even stare at her out of respect of her privacy! Manhattan in the 50s, 60s and even 70s had a lot of antique dealers on 3rd. Ave. and Ms. Garbo was a constant figure browsing those stores. Greta Garbo, the once silver screen goddess, lived a modest life in Manhattan. Her trade mark was the shade of lipstick she always wore and the camel hair coat one saw on her, until in later years when she adopted a brown duffle coat whenever she went out.

Sidney Lumet's film pays homage to that fleeting figure. The mysterious woman is at the center of a film that perhaps is not so much about the mythical figure, as much as the allure of what she stood for.

The story of the terminally ill Estelle Rolfe is a sweet account in how her loving son Gilbert tries to bring the illusion of the movies to his dying mother. The movie shows to what lengths Gilbert goes to grant Estelle a moment with the person she most admired, the actress Greta Garbo. Estelle was a fan, but more than that, she was a no nonsense lady who championed righteousness above all.

Anne Bancroft was born to play Estelle. Ms. Bancroft knew this woman and her portrayal benefits from the way she plays her. As the son, Ron Silver is good. He will go to whatever extreme to please his mother. Carrie Fisher is Lisa, the California girl married to Gilbert who doesn't want to stay in New York. Veteran actors like Howard Da Silva, Stephen Hill, Herminone Gingold, Dorothy Loudon, Harvey Fierstein are seen in the film in supporting parts.

"Garbo Talks" is not one of Sidney Lumet's best movies, but still, one gets the feeling what it is to live in New York with this tale about the celluloid meeting reality in Manhattan.