| Show how I 1 broke into j the copyright by movies hal C C fier merman nian L by GRETA GARBO I 1 IF 1 YOU think it Is hard to break into motion pictures in america you should try it in my native country the swedish government encourages young boys and girls in their thea theatrical trl aspirations and endeavors to re moe as many obstacles from their path as possible this in itself Is an encouragement to the ambitious but b ut by giving nearly ever everybody everrod bod y an equal chance makes the competition even sharper than it Is in the united states ever since I 1 can remember I 1 wanted to be an actress and would have qui school at an earlier age to take like ut ui theatricals had it not been for wishes of my parents to see sec my education completed neither my father nor mother were professional people but when they saw I 1 was determined to achieve his success they did all they could to help me my ily first public appearance on the stage was in a spectacular scene in one of the old swedish plays I 1 was only one of many young folk who appeared la in it tor for the experience and to observe the technique of the finished artists who headed the cast by working in such plays with many other young folk I 1 began to learn the W greta garbo rudiments of technical grace as well as to develop stage presence it came to my mind that I 1 might make good on the screen but since there are so few motion picture atu btu tu dlos in stockholm I 1 thought I 1 would not really have a chance because so many other girls were applying for film filin work sweden has a traditional character whose life has been dramatized into gosta berlings saga which in eng lish means the story of gosta berling I 1 was familiar with the play so when I 1 heard that director mauritz stiller was to produce it as a picture at the swedish film industry inc I 1 determined to seek a role in the cast I 1 have much hope of success but I 1 put on my newest dress and sought an interview with mr stiller when I 1 talked with him I 1 was much surprised to learn he had noticed me on the stage the result of the interview was that I 1 was given one of the three important feminine roles in the picture of which lars larson who Is now well known to screen audiences was the star the picture was well received throughout europe and many critics spoke of it as one of the best ever produced to in sweden the country which for some years led the european producing field louis B mayor mayer head of the metro goldwyn mayer studio in california happened to see the picture while abroad three years ago and offered me a contract to come to america bad and appear in pictures produced at the M G M studio I 1 accepted and have since been with that company my only secret of beauty Is scrubbing the face with a complexion brush and soap and water nothing more exotic than that in my country sweden we do not use cold cream so much as in america it sounds strange to american ears I 1 know but a good soap plenty of water and a small scrubbing brush Is the best skin medicine cosmetic one of the recent pictures in chih h I 1 played was grand hotel with lionel barrymore john barrymore wallace beery joan crawford and other prominent movie players |
