The Divine Garbo

garbo is one of many stars in this international drama of squalor in post-world war i berlin. garbo's role is grete rumfort, a young woman faced with the prospect of becoming a prostitute in order to survive.

after debuting in 1925's the torrent, garbo was starred in the temptress, a seamy story of a woman who artlessly destroys the lives of the men that love her.

this 1927 romantic drama would bring garbo together with her leading man of choice, john gilbert. she plays felicitas, another adulterous woman.

after going on a strike from her home studio, garbo returned to play in film s like the mysterious lady. she plays tania, a russian spy who falls in love with the soldiers she deceives into giving her secrets.

garbo's last silent was based on an actual murder case. garbo plays irene guarry, a french aristocrat that must defend an ardent young man against her overly jealous husband.

garbo's sound film debut came with the 1930 adaptation of o'neill's play about a swedish prostitute trying to reform her life. garbo would also film an all german version of this property.

garbo was given another opportunity to play a spy in this fanciful version of the life at dutch secret agent mata hari.

once garbo was cast as anna christie, the floodgates of opportunity opened. her next role would be rita cavallini, an italian diva that enthralls an english curate.

one of garbo's finest film is queen christina. as the titular swedish queen, garbo was afforded one of her most complex roles of her career.

garbo's most famous sound role was probably her shortest. she plays russian ballerina gruskinskaya surrounded by all star cast including john and lionel barrymore, joan crawford and wallace beery.

anna karenina was garbo's second chance to play tolstoy's tragic heroine. the first was a contemporary version titled love. it was released in 1927.

garbo's finest moment on a drama.

after the success of camille, garbo was paired as marie walewska to charles boyer's napoleon. boyer was the victor in the film.

garbo showed a talent for comedy that had only been hinted at in the lighter moments of some of her early films. she was soviet envoy nina yaukushova in this delightful comic ode to a twnikling paris!

garbo did not intend to retire after the adverse reception to her performance as karin in two faced woman.

garbo is seen is rapid succession in some clips from her sound film triumphs in the second tribute to mgm's glory days.

glenn close narrates this sweet one-hour documentary for tnt television.

this is a much weightier, in depth documentary of garbo's european and american careers, narrated by renowned swedish actress bibi andersson.