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Garbo Talks

Play trailer 2:11 Poster for Garbo Talks PG-13 1984 1h 43m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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?

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Garbo Talks

Garbo Talks

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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 Aug 22, 2021
2.5/4
Lumet demonstrates once again that comedies are definitely not his forte... Go to Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times Aug 22, 2021
"Garbo Talks" is so thoroughly and entirely satisfying, it's almost sinful. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review George Williams Sacramento Bee Aug 22, 2021
3/4
"Garbo Talks" is a winner. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Nov 11, 2025 Funny in 1 hour and 43 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more 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. See more 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. See more steve d @RT35616104 Jul 13, 2020 It was too depressing for me to find it remotely amusing. See more 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. See more Sep 20, 2014 So Sweet and Funny one of my favorite Anne Bancroft films See more Read all reviews
Garbo Talks

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Cast & Crew

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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

Walter Rolfe

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Garbo Talks

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Garbo Talks

Garbo Talks (1984) Garbo Talks (1984) Garbo Talks (1984) View more photos

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
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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