Customer Reviews

Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy

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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.

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!

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!

Mark Vieira's "Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy" is an excellent book. Great research. Very informative of all her films and the great legacy they are. Also, he has told facts in her personal life that were not known until recently. (I agree 100% re the Oct. 1926 to Apr. 1927 "strike" and two months again after; honestly, I thought the same a long time ago)!
I also agree 100% w/his saying that Karen Swenson's biography, "Greta Garbo-A Life Apart", is the definitive one (read this book twice too).
If there is any fault at all that I find w/Mr. Vieira's excellent work, it is as follows: The constant references to M. Dietrich. Furthermore, I certainly don't believe any kind of info that Dietrich's daughter Maria Riva has related.
Another pet peeve is the non-mentioning of the way John Gilbert, who loved Greta passionately and vice versa (they really were star-crossed lovers), was really destroyed with glee by Mayer.
All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed it!!

U nusually informative survey of Garbo's career with background material on her artistry rather than just her personal life
wonderful pictures

This was the first book I bought about Greta Garbo. Luckily, it happened to be a good one. The book is nicely put together, very informative and includes many rare photos of hers. The writing style is easy to follow and divided, just the right amount of words in each chapter.

The reader can learn about Garbo's personal life and her movie career at the same time. Vieria was a genius that was able to include all aspects and viewpoints of the various difficulties and circumstances of Garbo's career. We follow her through her relationships with men, the filming of movies, and talking up (or down) the companies that hired her. But that's not all: Vieria was wise enough to choose only the best photographs that would be valuable to the reader to include in his book about Garbo.

With all of the books I have reviewed thus far, I end up donating them or feeling that they're a waste, but Vieria authored one that was really good. Worth keeping and reading, looking at from time to time.

this book is the best book i bought.

a lot of excelent pictures of greta and great text also. i don't regret buying it.