- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1st Edition edition (Aug 1 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 081095897X
- ISBN-13: 978-0810958975
- Product Dimensions: 31 x 23.2 x 2.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1.7 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #484,761 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
Only Marlene Dietrich rivaled Garbo as a beauty, a movie star, and a photographic subject, and one of the most amusing motifs in Vieira's film-by-film account of her career consists of regarding Dietrich's changes in image, style, and choice of film "vehicle" as reactions to those of Garbo. The critical consensus is that Garbo was the better actress but that Dietrich appeared in many more important films than Garbo did. Vieira doesn't dispute this but claims that Garbo's oeuvre is more significant than is commonly acknowledged. Unfortunately, he never argues the merits of any of the films enough to begin to prove his point. No lover of Hollywood history will mind, though, since his detailed, impressively well-written accounts of Garbo's 24 completed Hollywood features and one aborted project are entertaining as well as informative. And the accompanying 300 black-and-white photos are--need it be said?--ravishing. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
With her astounding beauty and enigmatic persona, Greta Garbo is the ultimate Hollywood icon. Though many books have tried to unlock the mystique of the "Swedish Sphinx" by focusing primarily on her personal life, Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy is the first to pay serious attention to what made her an icon-her 24 Hollywood films.
Celebrating the centenary of her birth, the book draws extensively on interviews, letters, and newly accessible M-G-M production files to chronicle Garbo's career from her American debut in 1926 to her self-imposed retirement in 1941 at the height of her popularity. A wealth of film stills, production photographs, and portraits-many previously unpublished, all beautifully reproduced from pristine prints-combine with Mark Vieira's engrossing text to bring vividly to life the actress who inspired the critic Kenneth Tynan to declare: "What, when drunk, one sees in other women, one sees in Garbo sober."
Celebrating the centenary of her birth, the book draws extensively on interviews, letters, and newly accessible M-G-M production files to chronicle Garbo's career from her American debut in 1926 to her self-imposed retirement in 1941 at the height of her popularity. A wealth of film stills, production photographs, and portraits-many previously unpublished, all beautifully reproduced from pristine prints-combine with Mark Vieira's engrossing text to bring vividly to life the actress who inspired the critic Kenneth Tynan to declare: "What, when drunk, one sees in other women, one sees in Garbo sober."
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy (Hardcover)
Having read every book about Garbo that I could lay my hands on I can honestly say this is THE ultimate book for any Garbo fan. I just finished reading it and am still in awe of just how incredible it is.Though it does not delve into her personal life or character to any great degree (for this, read "Greta Garbo: A Life Apart" by Karen Swenson), it is filled with pages upon pages of details about her movies that are just mentioned in other books. It is extremely well written with a great deal of care and does not skimp on anything. In fact there are many anecdotes and details that I have not read before and thus made the text anything but boring--even for someone who has read GG's story countless times. The physical book itself is absolutely phenomenal. From the jacket, to the gorgeous hardcover underneath, to the hundreds of amazing photos (including many new ones) it is cover-to-cover, an absolute treasure. Thank you Mark Vieira for another marvelous book!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews) 46 of 49 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely fantastic,
By M - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy (Hardcover)
This is yet another book for the ultimate Garbo fan. The pictures are absolutely radiant and clear, and even more photos of Garbo that have never been seen before. Vieira's take is an extremely interesting one - taking a close look at each and every film through Garbo's growth of her own true art while intertwining more of the studio politics involved from documentation during the time of every single one of her films. The way he appreciates her for her acting ability is refreshing for any Garbo lover. This book is like the newest drug that makes you even more addicted to watching her movies.Vieira does have interesting speculations about what was really happening during certain peculiar abscences in her time at the studio, what were the real causes for conflict with Thalberg and Louis B. Mayer, etc., based on letters and documents that were found or not found during his research. Even though you may not be completely swayed some of his suggestions, they are still very intriguing discoveries about her life during her film career and keep the mind wondering about the wonderful and mysterious Garbo. This book is a must have for anyone even remotely interested in Garbo or this time period of film. Vieira also adds bits of information throughout about cameras and photography from the silent to the sound era - very interesting technical facts woven in about what equipment people working in a large studio at the time were dealing with - not boring in any way shape or form. Thank you Vieira! I highly recommend his other books, too. 22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Garbo Fans will want to be "alone" with this beautiful book!,
By C. M Mills "Michael Mills" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy (Hardcover)
The Swedish Sphinx Greta Garbo (1905-1990 was "an enigma wrapped up in mystery" to most people. However, in this out-standing book you will come to know her for what she is best remembered for: her movies! Viera analyses each of Garbo's films from her first silent feature "Torrent" through to her last talkie "Two Faced Woman." In between these two films you will: a. Have a in-depth analysis of each of the films b. See the secrets revealed of such masters of photography as William Daniels, Hurrell and Bull who lit Garbo to perfection. c. Learn of Garbo's torrid and tortured affair with John Gilber d. Learn about her great director Stiller and her work with such American directors as Clarence Brown and others. e. Explore the business side of her relationship with MGM as she dealt with moguls such as LB Meyer and boy wonder Irving Grant Thalberg, Viera is a photographer and film historian who makes the life and career of Garbo come alive after all these years. I have enjoyed his earlier: "Hurrell's Hollywood Portraits" and "Sin in Sof-Focus" always profiting from the enjoyable hours spent in his company. This is an essential book for any Garbo or movie fan of the golden era of Hollywood! A true delight! 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy it!,
By Mary Thorleuy - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy (Hardcover)
Any book put out by Abrams has my vote and a place on my book shelf. This book on Garbo is no exception. Without reading a word her story is told through the fabulous photographs. A must for fans of classic film, Garbo (obviously!) and photography buffs!Amazing! |
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Actors & Actresses
- Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Entertainers
- Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > Women
- Books > Entertainment > Movies > Biographies > Actors & Actresses
- Books > Entertainment > Movies > History & Criticism
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
