The Silent Lovers (1980)

Follows the arrival of Greta Garbo in Hollywood, and her ill fated affair with fellow star John Gilbert.

Director:

John Erman

Writers:

Garson Kanin (novel), William Hanley (teleplay)

Stars:

Brian Keith, Barry Bostwick, Harold Gould

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian Keith	...	Mauritz Stiller
Barry Bostwick	...	John Gilbert
Harold Gould	...	Louis B. Mayer
John Rubinstein	...	Irving Thalberg
James Olson	...	Victor Seastrom
Barney Martin	...	Eddie Mannix
Audra Lindley	...	Laura Hope Crews
Mackenzie Phillips	...	Lillian Gish
Kristina Wayborn	...	Greta Garbo
Joseph Hacker	...	King Vidor
Cecilia Hart	...	Norma Shearer
Kerry McGrath	...	Eleanor Boardman
Hank Garrett	...	Clarence Brown
Thaao Penghlis	...	Antonio Moreno
Frederick Combs	...	Howard Strickling

Storyline

Follows the arrival of Greta Garbo in Hollywood, and her ill fated affair with fellow star John Gilbert.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Moviola: The Silent Lovers

Filming Locations:

Stage 12, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Wolper-Stan Margulies Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Louis B. Mayer: If I thought actors were gonna have to talk, I would've stayed in the junk business!

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Connections

References The Jazz Singer (1927)

User Reviews

A wonderful re-creation of Greta Garbo

As with the other reviewer here, I first saw this made for TV movie when it came out in the early eighties, and had never seen it since, till finally I found it online last night. I loved it the first time as part of the Moviola series of three made for TV movies based on the novel Moviola by Garson Kanin. But I loved it even more finally getting to see it again.

Garbo has always held a certain fascination for me, and believe me Kristina Wayborn's Garbo is a treasure to behold. Though understated, Miss Wayborn is totally luminous as Garbo, and completely owns the part. I have no idea if Garbo herself ever saw this, but I feel sure she would have been proud of the way Kristina Wayborn portrayed her.

What really surprises me is that Miss Wayborn did not herself go on to have a great career after playing such a wonderful part. I don't know, maybe she was born in the wrong era, but I can't help thinking she would have been a major star today.

The rest of the cast of The Silent Lovers are in the main, good, especially Barry Bostwick as John Gilbert, Harold Gould as L. B. Mayer, and John Rubinstein as the ill-fated boy wonder, Irving Thalberg.

If you do get to see The Silent Lovers, I doubt you will be disappointed. It's worth seeing alone for Kristina Wayborn's magnificent re-creation of Greta Garbo.