Screenland (May-Oct 1930)

for May 19 30 29 A Penetrating Portrait of the Little Chicago Girl who Became a Marquise in Real Life and a Czarina of the Screen By James Oppenheim IT is a curious fact that the two outstanding women of the American screen have Swedish blood in them. Greta Garbo and Gloria Swanson. Of course, the Garbo was a recent importation whereas Gloria was American-born, and anyone who has seen the latter in "The Trespasser" knows that she can be American to her finger-tips, whether as private secretary, telephone girl, apartment-house mother, or millionaire's wife. But then, Gloria could be a veritable Queen or run a Paris salon. She could, likewise, be a 'moll' in the underworld. But, whatever she is, she is superb and aristocratic, which latter means that she goes her own way, whether against a barrage of criticism or lack of funds; and that she can be a stately hostess or fling herself down on a bed and play 'kids' with a child. These Scandinavian women! Why do they fascinate hard-hitting, go-getting, down-to-earth Americans? Perhaps it is that no matter how hard-hitting and go-getting they may be themselves, they are also up in the clouds: Valkyries astride horses bearing dead warriors through the skies to Valhalla. There is poetry in them, and so a prosenation is allured and fascinated. They give us dreams to dream and wonders to wonder at. And yet, Garbo and Swanson are utterly unlike. Garbo seems like a captive princess in a tower, with the sea dashing below in moonlight, caring for nothing but something long-lost; whereas Swanson belongs to the great modern city: skyscrapers and windy sunny days, radio, motor cars, jewels, gowns and splendor — a woman of the world. We begin to understand the difference (as well as the likeness) when we examine the questionnaire which Miss Swanson, with the help of an interlocutor, has answered for Screen land. We know that Greta Garbo is a deep introvert, that she prefers the dream-world to the real world, that she is lonely, moody, aloof, and often sorrowful; that it is mainly in her art that she extraverts, that is, has a warm living contact with a world of people. Miss Swanson sets herself down as extraverted, 55, as against introverted, 23. Turning the figures around we would probably get a picture of Greta Garbo. In fact, we might say that Garbo is more the artist, Swanson more the woman; Garbo is more a dream-figure, a night-star; Swanson flesh-and-blood, a powerful electric light. Yet note the likenesses, Scandinavian, I take it. Miss Swanson says of herself : I am a little self-conscious. I feel very much misunderstood by most people. I hate to be conspicuous, even in my own home. I am self -centered, introspective: keep looking into my self. I have deep moods that sometimes last for days. I am very easily in a tense condition. I am very often 'up in the clouds.' One would imagine from this that she would have a hard time meeting the world, mixing in, getting things done, being practical; that like Greta Garbo, she would Ernest A. Bachrach Gloria Swanson is a self-made woman. She is one of America's assets, for her art is superb and her life is a challenge to the rest of us. be tyrannized over by changing moods (introverted feeling) ; moods that she was acting in a screen-play or those inexplicable moods which, like fog, cut us off from the world and make us hide in a dingy corner of misery. But this introverted side is Swanson's shadow, whereas it is Garbo's self. For listen to these further answers : I am a real go-getter, by nature. It is very easy for me to order others around. (Imagine Garbo good at 'that!) Life is a game to me, to be played through like a sport. I'm a good actor in public, and a good mixer. I am naturally very active and delight in doing things. I like very many people. I like always to be with them and on the go. I am loving and affectionate. I am a faddist, and take up with all the fads that come along. (Honest, that!) I would be absolutely indifferent if the man I loved should flirt with other women. I am very realistic and have much common sense. I am easy-going as a rule. In short, she is many sided, and the extraverted side is strong enough to. win victory (Continued on page 112)