Garbo Talks (1984)
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- PG-13
- 1h 43min
- Comedy, Drama
- 12 Oct 1984 (USA)
- Movie
The son of a woman dying of a brain tumor tries to fulfill his mother's last wish: to meet Greta Garbo.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Anne Bancroft | ... |
Estelle Rolfe
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| Ron Silver | ... |
Gilbert Rolfe
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| Carrie Fisher | ... |
Lisa Rolfe
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| Catherine Hicks | ... |
Jane Mortimer
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| Steven Hill | ... |
Walter Rolfe
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| Howard Da Silva | ... |
Angelo Dokakis
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| Dorothy Loudon | ... |
Sonya Apollinar
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| Harvey Fierstein | ... |
Bernie Whitlock
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| Hermione Gingold | ... |
Elizabeth Rennick
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| Richard B. Shull | ... |
Shepard Plotkin
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| Michael Lombard | ... |
Mr. Morganelli
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| Ed Crowley | ... |
Mr. Goldhammer
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| Alice Spivak | ... |
Claire Rolfe
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Maurice Sterman | ... |
Dr. Cohen
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| Antonia Rey | ... |
Esmeralda
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Court Miller | ... |
'Romeo and Juliet' Director
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| Denny Dillon | ... |
Elaine
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Karen Shallo | ... |
Harriet
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| Max Alexander | ... |
Roger Kellerman
(as Maxwell Alexander)
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Peter Gumeny | ... |
Arrest Officer
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Stephen Burks | ... |
Black Officer
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Tony DiBenedetto | ... |
Construction Worker #1
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Burtt Harris | ... |
Construction Worker #2
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Mervyn Nelson | ... |
Movie Shop Owner
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John Ring | ... |
Garbo Doorman
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Anne Gartlan | ... |
Garbo Maid
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José Angel Santana | ... |
Sanchez / Orderly
(as Jose Santana)
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Jennifer Ogden | ... |
2nd Nurse
(as Jennifer M. Ogden)
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David Hammil | ... |
Ferry Conductor
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Roderick Cook | ... |
Von Klammer
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| Mary McDonnell | ... |
Lady Capulet
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Leila Danette | ... |
Augusta
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Nadine Darling | ... |
Flea Market Saleslady #1
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Joan DeMarrais | ... |
Flea Market Saleslady #2
(as Joan deMarrais)
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| Ethel Beatty | ... |
Lady in Jail
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| Adolph Green | ... |
Self
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| Arthur Schlesinger Jr. | ... |
Self
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Didi D'Errico | ... |
Actor's Equity Receptionist
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| Harry Madsen | ... |
Delivery Man
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Van Kaplan | ... |
Photographer
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| Christine Parks | ... |
Dalmatian Lady
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| Andrzej Bartkowiak | ... |
(uncredited)
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Cy Coleman | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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| Betty Comden | ... |
Garbo (uncredited)
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| Arlene Francis | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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| Greta Garbo | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Michael Musto | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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Charles Pendelton | ... |
Construction Worker (uncredited)
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| George Plimpton | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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Sharon Porter-Phillips | ... |
(uncredited)
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Stephen M. Silverman | ... |
Self - journalist at Museum of Modern Art (uncredited)
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| Liz Smith | ... |
(uncredited)
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Directed by
| Sidney Lumet | ||
Written by
| Larry Grusin | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Burtt Harris | ... | producer |
| Elliott Kastner | ... | producer |
| Jennifer Ogden | ... | associate producer (as Jennifer M. Ogden) |
Music by
| Cy Coleman | ||
Cinematography by
| Andrzej Bartkowiak | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Andrew Mondshein | ||
Editorial Department
| Sam Adelman | ... | second assistant editor |
| Dennis McNeill | ... | color timer |
Production Design by
| Philip Rosenberg | ||
Set Decoration by
| Philip Smith | ||
Costume Design by
| Anna Hill Johnstone | ||
Makeup Department
| Joe Cranzano | ... | makeup artist |
| Bob Grimaldi | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Jennifer Ogden | ... | unit production manager (as Jennifer M. Ogden) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Alan Hopkins | ... | second assistant director |
| Jay Tobias | ... | dga trainee |
| Robert E. Warren | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| John Godfrey | ... | set designer |
| Carl Landi | ... | carpenter |
| John Oates Jr. | ... | set dresser |
| Richard A. Ventre | ... | master scenic artist |
| Joan Winters | ... | graphic designer |
Sound Department
| Paul Coombe | ... | sound recording mixer |
| Marko A. Costanzo | ... | foley artist |
| Lee Dichter | ... | re-recording mixer |
| John Gilroy | ... | apprentice sound editor |
| Robert Hein | ... | sound editor (as Bob Hein) |
| Marc Laub | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Harry Peck Bolles | ... | sound editor |
| James Sabat | ... | sound mixer |
| Louis Sabat | ... | boom operator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Ralph Brandofino | ... | assistant camera (1984) |
| Kerry Hayes | ... | still photographer |
| Tom Kerwick | ... | grip |
| Richard C. Kratina | ... | camera operator (as Richard Kratina) |
| Billy Miller | ... | key grip |
| Gary Muller | ... | assistant camera |
| Hank Muller | ... | assistant camera |
| Dusty Wallace | ... | chief electrician |
| James Halligan | ... | grip (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Mark Burchard | ... | wardrobe |
| Marilyn Putnam | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| Sandy Nelson | ... | location coordinator |
| Chris Stoia | ... | location coordinator |
Music Department
| Michael Farrow | ... | music recording engineer (as Mike Farrow) |
| Walt Levinsky | ... | conductor |
| Sonny Kompanek | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Martha Pinson | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Sarah Carson | ... | production office coordinator |
| Susan Metzger | ... | unit publicist (as Susan Brockman Metzger) |
| Max Piquepé | ... | french subtitles |
| Michael Sporn | ... | title designer |
| Mike Tremont | ... | stand-in: Ron Silver (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1984) (United States) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1984) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (1985) (France) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (Norway) (theatrical)
- CBS/Fox (1985) (United States) (VHS) (pam and scan)
- United Artists (1985) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Paramount Pictures France (1990) (France) (theatrical)
- Carlotta Films (2000) (France) (theatrical)
- ILC Prime (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2011) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- Swashbuckler Films (2011) (France)
- Simply Media (2015) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- L'Atelier d'Images (2022) (France) (DVD) (also Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Joy Todd Casting (casting)
- Lightflex America Inc.
- Madison Square Garden Network (New York Knicks footage courtesy of)
- Metrocolor (prints in)
- Michael Sporn Animation (animation)
- Michael Sporn Animation (titles)
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (this motion picture was filmed in New York with the cooperation of:)
- New York Police Department Motion Picture Unit (this motion picture was filmed in New York with the cooperation of)
- Panavision (Panaflex® Camera and lenses by)
- Technicolor (color by)
- The New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (this motion picture was filmed in New York with the cooperation of:)
- The New York Convention Center Development Corporation (this motion picture was filmed in New York with the cooperation of:)
- Trans World Airlines (TWA) (this motion picture was filmed in New York with the cooperation of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Estelle is a one-person protest army: she goes to jail over grocery prices, shames construction workers for catcalling at passing women, and won't cross a picket line for her son's wedding. She also loves Garbo films: when she learns she has a brain tumor and six months to live, she decides she must meet Garbo. Her dutiful son Gilbert, a Manhattan accountant named for Garbo's co-star, hires a paparazzo to show him Garbo's flat, stakes it out, gets a job delivering food there, seeks her on Fire Island, and tracks her to a Sixth Avenue flea market. As his obsession distances him from his wife, he's drawn to a struggling actress he meets at work. Can he find Garbo? If so, will she talk?
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Sometimes you can catch a star... See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Opening Weekend United States | $127,192, 14 Oct 1984 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Betty Comden was hired to play Garbo at the end of the film because the producers were sure that the real Garbo either could not be located or would flatly turn them down. However, the producers tried a known associate of Greta Garbo's. He was located and was asked to ask the great actress if she would appear in the film, but the associate never responded. See more » |
| Goofs | 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Teachers/Country/The Brother from Another Planet/Old Enough (1984). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | In the 2003 DVD issued by ILC Prime the usual MGM lion is there but with the words DIAMOND JUBILEE arced over it's head, with SIXTY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT across the bottom of the screen. See more » |
| Quotes |
Estelle Rolfe:
If your head's in the toilet, don't blow bubbles. See more » |