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Garbo Talks

PG-13 Released Oct 12, 1984 1h 43m Comedy Drama List
57% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 50% Audience Score 250+ Ratings
When doting son Gilbert Rolfe (Ron Silver) finds out his mother has a brain tumor, he is devastated. His incorrigible mother, Estelle (Anne Bancroft), has one last wish: to meet the great Greta Garbo. Gilbert, wanting to do this last thing for her, sets out on a wild goose chase through the streets of New York City to track down the iconic star, at the expense of his personal life and much to the chagrin of his wife, Lisa (Carrie Fisher). Can he find Garbo before it's too late? Read More Read Less

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Critics Consensus

Garbo Talks finds Lumet shifting into comedic gear while commanding a cast that's often talented enough to distract from the story's flaws.

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Critics Reviews

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Kathleen Carroll New York Daily News Lumet demonstrates once again that comedies are definitely not his forte... Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 22, 2021 Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times "Garbo Talks" is so thoroughly and entirely satisfying, it's almost sinful. Aug 22, 2021 Full Review Mike Ritchey Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com The idea of the film and the performances of Bancroft and two or three others work like a charm. Aug 22, 2021 Full Review Bill Cosford Miami Herald Carrie Fisher, once trapped in Star Wars, is a minor revelation; the movie seems funnier whenever she is on screen. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 22, 2021 Full Review Michael Wilmington L.A. Weekly Garbo Talks is a comedy, and Lumet, as he's shown before, is a good comedy director; the movie keeps its slightly tart comic objectivity even in the warmest, runniest moments. Aug 22, 2021 Full Review George Williams Sacramento Bee "Garbo Talks" is a winner. Rated: 3/4 Aug 22, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Yes - it's far fetched and schmaltzy. Yes - the critics panned it. But - I loved this movie back when it came out and I still love it now. (OMG too many years later!) The main theme of the soundtrack stays with you and is used beautifully throughout. Bancroft is great in this. There is just something about it that speaks to me despite its limitations. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member I remember it fondly as a child. First time I saw Harvey Fierstein in a movie and Ann Bancroft was great as always. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review steve d It was too depressing for me to find it remotely amusing. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review ashley h Garbo Talks is a disappointing film. It is about the son of a woman dying of a brain tumor tries to fulfill his mother's last wish: to meet Greta Garbo. Anne Bancroft and Ron Silver give terrible performances. The script is badly written. Sidney Lumet did a horrible job directing this movie. I was not impressed with this motion picture. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member So Sweet and Funny one of my favorite Anne Bancroft films Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Not worth your time. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Garbo Talks

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Movie Info

Synopsis When doting son Gilbert Rolfe (Ron Silver) finds out his mother has a brain tumor, he is devastated. His incorrigible mother, Estelle (Anne Bancroft), has one last wish: to meet the great Greta Garbo. Gilbert, wanting to do this last thing for her, sets out on a wild goose chase through the streets of New York City to track down the iconic star, at the expense of his personal life and much to the chagrin of his wife, Lisa (Carrie Fisher). Can he find Garbo before it's too late?
Director
Sidney Lumet
Production Co
United Artists
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 12, 1984, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 30, 2017
Runtime
1h 43m
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