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— And Here Is the Romantic Reason For Her Finally Breaking Her Silence • By Jim Mason
The reporters who met her when the " Gripsholm" docked in New York were aware of the fact that they were meeting a new Garbo. Always before this she had refused to grant formal interviews, to pose for news pictures. When Purser Nils Aurelius said to reporters that Garbo would meet the press in the smoking room, they were frankly incredulous. They wondered if this might not be some trick to keep them from following Garbo. But it was no trick. She received them graciously, and for ten minutes answered their questions.
What was the real reason for her change of mind and heart? Why has she broken her long silence? Why has she changed her tactics with reporters?
There have been all sorts of rumors. Those who choose to be cynical about the matter point out that her box-office popularity is waning. They claim that her long silence was an act, and that when she found that it wasn't going over so well any longer, she changed it, like the clever showwoman she is.
But I think they are wrong. The Garbo I met didn't impress me as the kind of woman who would ever put on an act. Even today Garbo isn't playing ring-around-the-rosie with the press. Newspapermen accustomed to those who use spellbinding or clever phrases may be disappointed with Garbo. If she were merely trying to win back her box-office appeal, surely she would adopt a more dramatic, startling role.
The real reason for her change of heart apparently is George Brent.
"Pouf!" you, say, "that's old stuff."
Old stuff? Perhaps it was once. Today it's new and vital as this morning's newspaper. For that romance has just been revived.
Garbo's name was linked with George Brent's all during the making of "The Painted Veil." When that production was finished, she went away to Sweden for a rest and a vacation, and her published avowal was the sullen declaration that she was through with Hollywood and pictures forever.
Now stop thinking of Garbo as a legend and think of her for once as a woman. Here is a woman of thirty who has never allowed love to dominate her. As a girl of sixteen she was in love with Carl Brisson, who was Carl Peterson then, and six feet two of romantic muscle. He had just won a boxing contest and was appearing in a cabaret show in Stockholm. When he went to the Continent to become the great Brisson, Greta waved good-by to him and to first love and settled down to steady, careful work with Mauritz Stiller, the director.
Stiller, under whose guidance she came to America, was undoubtedly the great love of her life. And yet adoring Mauritz Stiller, she allowed him to return to Sweden, branded a Hollywood failure.
For two enchanting, glamorous, mad years she and John Gilbert were wildly in love with each other. And yet she seemingly broke his heart. She is said to have eloped with him once,
—a*'
George Brent was the first friend Garbo saw on her return and she has been constantly in his company ever since. Is it love?
but at the last moment she said, "John, I have changec mind" and went back to Hollywood still single.
Uways other things came first with Greta; love sccoik Garbo had her little universe | PLEASE TURN TO page
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