Greta Garbo or Ingrid Bergman?

Honestly, I don't think there was a better actress in the classical era than Greta Garbo. She had it all. One of the greatest tragedies in cinema is that she checked out in the early '40s and didn't want to continue in the industry anymore. We were all robbed.

Garbo for all.

I consider her the greatest actress of classical cinema, and her 1930s films are some of the most sophisticated and intelligent made during that decade. In terms of looks or ‘presence,’ Garbo was an old soul but she was also very modern - this combination is possibly why she was so influential during that period, and also why she was such a big star in Europe - it also gives image and beauty a kind of timelessness.

Garbo is one of the great legends of the movies, probably a greater one even than Ingrid, but Bermgan from the 50s on got to prove herself as a performer way beyond every one of her age, and probably every other up until at least the 70s.

Bergman for all and she would sweep almost anybody too ........

I've said this before - no one used their sexuality in film like her - prior to her - and she sought out roles the cross-connected sex to her character's mental states - in her Gaslight / Dr. Jekyll mode she is practically frantic to the touch.........in Casablanca she sits there and in effect is called a whore by Bogart - and she takes his verbal assault like it's all true and physically absorbs that asault....

I wrote this 2 years ago ffs - and you just know this specific move is hers not the director's - this is one of the great acting "trick" scenes if you are looking for hints of what is to come with Brando but pre-Brando.......it's all there and in how you read it.........


Last great performance you watched thread
Apr 8, 2021 at 2:53pm Javi likes this:

A neat little note to see how smart this performance is:

Watch this scene at the very end - Bergman's one hand clutches into a fist - to throw a punch (she never does) - and her other hand in a fist then opens.

When you watch that scene this suggests the fist - in a psychological sense - is her trying to "clutch" or get a hold of what's been happening to her too, get control - and the opening of the other hand is her literally but ALSO symbolically giving up/giving in to Mr. Hyde.

Not only in this scene as played but as subtext to the film overall and within her performance specifically...........it's also quite sexual (think about it) as a scene and a visual cue. Both actors are good - but one actor is merely presenting (Tracy), and the other (Bergman) is aware of the many components of the piece overall and acting them through her behavior.

It's............kinda awesome actually to look at for an analysis .........especially in 1941!

@2:50