Garbo Talks

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2:11

Garbo Talks

PG-13

Released Oct 12, 1984

1h 43m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

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21 Reviews

50%

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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?

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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Kathleen Carroll

New York Daily News

Lumet demonstrates once again that comedies are definitely not his forte...

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 22, 2021

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

"Garbo Talks" is so thoroughly and entirely satisfying, it's almost sinful.

Aug 22, 2021

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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

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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

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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

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George Williams

Sacramento Bee

"Garbo Talks" is a winner.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 22, 2021

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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

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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

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steve d

It was too depressing for me to find it remotely amusing.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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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

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Audience Member

So Sweet and Funny one of my favorite Anne Bancroft films

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

Not worth your time.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Anne Bancroft

Estelle Rolfe

Ron Silver

Gilbert Rolfe

Carrie Fisher

Lisa Rolfe

Catherine Hicks

Jane Mortimer

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Garbo Talks: Trailer 1

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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
Producer: Burtt Harris, Elliott Kastner
Screenwriter: Larry Grusin
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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