8. Slimming down Garbo to comply with American tastes
The studio system of Hollywood during its Golden Age ensured that actors and actresses complied with the demands of the studio heads, producers, directors, or the actors neither worked nor were paid. Louis B. Mayer of MGM epitomized the studio system, and through his lieutenants, including head of the production Irving Thalberg, he ensured his demands were met. In 1925 Mayer asked a young Swedish actress named Greta Garbo to come to America for a screen test. Mayer’s interest had been piqued by a private viewing of a Garbo film made in Sweden called The Saga of Gosta Berling. Garbo was acting with director Mauritz Stiller, who sent Mayer the film in the hope of being asked to join MGM himself. Mayer was unimpressed with Stiller, but enthralled with Garbo, reportedly saying, “I’ll take her without him. I’ll take her with him. Number one is the girl”.
He may have been enthralled, but evidently, Thalberg was less so, reportedly informing Garbo that America did not like fat girls as he began her makeover upon arrival in the United States. Garbo’s complete lack of English was immaterial in the days of silent film, but her teeth needed straightening, her hair color needed changing, and her weight needed trimming. Though Garbo was 20 years old, MGM’s moguls envisioned her as an exotic, sultry seductress, and that was how she was presented, despite her protests. Garbo became a silent film star of immense proportions, and eventually, she transitioned to sound after her accent was restrained through voice lessons. Throughout her career Garbo managed to evade the demands of MGM executives that she be made available for publicity appearances and interviews, shunning both in her lifelong determination to be left alone.