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The Silent Lovers

  • TV Movie
  • 19801980
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
80
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Silent Lovers (1980)
  • Drama
Follows the arrival of Greta Garbo in Hollywood, and her ill fated affair with fellow star John Gilbert.Follows the arrival of Greta Garbo in Hollywood, and her ill fated affair with fellow star John Gilbert.Follows the arrival of Greta Garbo in Hollywood, and her ill fated affair with fellow star John Gilbert.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
80
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Erman
  • Writers
    • Garson Kanin(novel "Moviola")
    • William Hanley(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Brian Keith
    • Barry Bostwick
    • Harold Gould
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Erman
  • Writers
    • Garson Kanin(novel "Moviola")
    • William Hanley(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Brian Keith
    • Barry Bostwick
    • Harold Gould
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 7 nominations total

    Photos

    Kristina Wayborn in The Silent Lovers (1980)
    The Silent Lovers (1980)
    Add photo

    Top cast

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    Brian Keith
    Brian Keith
    • Mauritz Stilleras Mauritz Stiller
    Barry Bostwick
    Barry Bostwick
    • John Gilbertas John Gilbert
    Harold Gould
    Harold Gould
    • Louis B. Mayeras Louis B. Mayer
    John Rubinstein
    John Rubinstein
    • Irving Thalbergas Irving Thalberg
    James Olson
    James Olson
    • Victor Seastromas Victor Seastrom
    Barney Martin
    Barney Martin
    • Eddie Mannixas Eddie Mannix
    Audra Lindley
    Audra Lindley
    • Laura Hope Crewsas Laura Hope Crews
    Mackenzie Phillips
    Mackenzie Phillips
    • Lillian Gishas Lillian Gish
    Kristina Wayborn
    Kristina Wayborn
    • Greta Garboas Greta Garbo
    Joseph Hacker
    Joseph Hacker
    • King Vidoras King Vidor
    Cecilia Hart
    Cecilia Hart
    • Norma Sheareras Norma Shearer
    Kerry McGrath
    Kerry McGrath
    • Eleanor Boardmanas Eleanor Boardman
    Hank Garrett
    Hank Garrett
    • Clarence Brownas Clarence Brown
    Thaao Penghlis
    Thaao Penghlis
    • Antonio Morenoas Antonio Moreno
    Frederick Combs
    • Howard Stricklingas Howard Strickling
    Terrence E. McNally
    • Robert Tayloras Robert Taylor
    • (as Terrence McNally)
    M.E. Lorange
    • Catherine Dale Owenas Catherine Dale Owen
    Mark Jacobs
    Mark Jacobs
    • P.R. Manas P.R. Man
    • (as Marc Jacobs)
    • Director
      • John Erman
    • Writers
      • Garson Kanin(novel "Moviola")
      • William Hanley(teleplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Follows the arrival of Greta Garbo in Hollywood, and her ill fated affair with fellow star John Gilbert.
    • based on novel
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Garbo and Gilbert. It Would Be Hollywood's Biggest Wedding...But She Left Him At The Altar.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This TV movie promotes the old Hollywood legend that Louis B. Mayer deliberately sabotaged the soundtrack of John Gilbert's first talkie out of personal spite, to ruin his career. This view was strongly advocated by Gilbert's daughter, but by few others; it is generally thought that Mayer was too hard-headed a business man to let personal enmity damage a major studio asset.
    • Quotes

      Louis B. Mayer: [During a preview of Flesh and the Devil] Call the fire department. The screen is gonna burst into flames.

    • Connections
      Follows This Year's Blonde (1980)

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Fictional look at major stars' romance in early Hollywood
    The promotion and summary for this film tells what it's about. John Gilbert was one of the biggest stars of the silent era. He was MGM's leading man when Greta Garbo arrived in Hollywood, fresh from her second film in her home country, Sweden.

    But for the general theme - the romance between Gilbert and Garbo, and some specific incidents, one should be wary of considering the story very accurate. After all, it's based on a fictional novel by Gordon Kanin, and that only partly includes Garbo and Gilbert. "Moviola" was a broad fictional novel about Hollywood movie production.

    This film focuses on the affair of several years between Garbo and Gilbert, after she once settles in Hollywood. Brian Keith's role is that of Garbo's Swedish mentor and film director, who was the reason that Garbo even went to Hollywood when she did.

    The portrayals of some of the major characters of the time seemed to fit the personas for which they were known. John Rubinstein plays a bright, cool and very capable MGM partner and producer, Irving Thalberg. And Harold Gould does very well as the flamboyant, boisterous, egotistical and socially awkward American producer, Louis B. Mayer

    Barry Bostwick gives a very good performance as John Gilbert, as well as one might know him these many decades later from articles, legends and samples of his work. The casting for Greta Garbo's character would naturally be the most challenging for this film. Kristina Wayborn got the part and did okay. It might be unfair to compare her to Garbo because of the latter's unique face and beauty. One doesn't have the sense that Wayborn is into the role of Garbo, or really portraying her persona.

    The film is true to its billing about the period of the Garbo-Gilbert romance. But, by barely including anything of shooting her films, except for a couple of scenes with Gilbert, I think the film falls way short. Just toward the end Garbo meets the actor who is playing Robert Taylor. He would be starring with her in her next picture, "Camille." It seems that showing much more of Garbo's acting and film work would have enhanced the story considerably. And that would include showing her later filming with closed sets, which she demanded.

    This is a somewhat interesting film, mostly on how Garbo got to Hollywood, and her early long romance with John Gilbert. But anyone wanting a more open story about her Hollywood years in general - including the several actors with whom she performed, will be disappointed.

    This is just a fair film and fictional look at a period in Greta Garbo's arrival in Hollywood and early romance, with just a peek at her dealings with MGM and her film career. Garbo was a striking actress - considered to be one of the most beautiful of all time. She was very capable and starred in some exceptional films. She never won an Oscar but was nominated three times. While drama was her special field, she starred in one of the best comedy and political satires ever made by Hollywood. So long as there is a public memory or knowledge of the Soviet Union of the past, "Ninotchka" of 1939 will remain a tremendous comedy that will entertain people.

    Garbo will be remembered and watched for decades to comes in some of the great films she made. Among those are "Anna Christie" of 1930, "Grand Hotel" of 1932, "Queen Christina" of 1933, "Anna Karenina" of 1935, and "Camille" of 1936, which she said was her favorite film. Robert Taylor, who co-starred with Garbo in that film, said it was one of his favorite films also and that Garbo was his favorite co-star.
    helpful•2
    0
    • SimonJack
    • Aug 12, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 20, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Moviola: The Silent Lovers
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 12, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • David Wolper-Stan Margulies Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    James Bond Retrospective: Octopussy (1983)
    May 15Obsessed with Film
    Harold Gould obituary
    Sep 21The Guardian - TV News

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