Garbo Talks

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2:11

Garbo Talks

PG-13

1984

1h 43m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

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

Aug 22, 2021

2.5/4

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

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

Aug 22, 2021

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

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Mike Ritchey

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Aug 22, 2021

The idea of the film and the performances of Bancroft and two or three others work like a charm.

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Bill Cosford

Miami Herald

Aug 22, 2021

2.5/4

Carrie Fisher, once trapped in Star Wars, is a minor revelation; the movie seems funnier whenever she is on screen.

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Michael Wilmington

L.A. Weekly

Aug 22, 2021

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.

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George Williams

Sacramento Bee

Aug 22, 2021

3/4

"Garbo Talks" is a winner.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Nov 11, 2025

Funny in 1 hour and 43 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jun 13, 2021

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.

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Jun 3, 2021

I remember it fondly as a child. First time I saw Harvey Fierstein in a movie and Ann Bancroft was great as always.

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steve d

@RT35616104 Jul 13, 2020

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

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ashley h

@ashleyhobgood87 Jan 13, 2019

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.

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Sep 20, 2014

So Sweet and Funny one of my favorite Anne Bancroft films

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Anne Bancroft

Estelle Rolfe

Ron Silver

Gilbert Rolfe

Carrie Fisher

Lisa Rolfe

Catherine Hicks

Jane Mortimer

Steven Hill

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Garbo Talks: Trailer 1

2:11

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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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