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IMDb > Garbo Talks (1984)

Garbo Talks (1984) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   513 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Sidney Lumet
Writer:
Larry Grusin (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Garbo Talks on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 October 1984 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama more
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. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Actor Ron Silver Dies
 (From WENN. 16 March 2009, 12:00 AM, PDT)

What's in a Name?
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 18 June 2003)

User Comments:
Looking for Greta more

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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Garbo Talks! (UK)
more
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Company:
United Artists more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Dorothy Loudon's film debut. more
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. more
Quotes:
Estelle Rolfe: If your head's in the toilet, don't blow bubbles. more
Movie Connections:
References Mata Hari (1931) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 21 people found the following comment useful:-
Looking for Greta, 5 May 2005
6/10
Author: jotix100 from New York

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.

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