Life of a Movie Star

Gloria Swanson
A history lesson by Quernzy on a very cool lady...

Born in 1899, started working in silent films when she was 15! Eventually cast in Cecil B. DeMille pictures, which brought her to superstar status. A ton of movies at Paramount Studios. Starring with Rudolph Valentino, going through husbands along the way. (she's up to 3 by now.) She even dated Joe Kennedy (John F. Kennedy's father).

So late 1920's, she decides to get away from the contracts at Paramount and produces her own film. But her next few were unsuccessful and she goes into semi-retirement.

In 1928, Swanson, teamed with Erich Von Stroheim for "Queen Kelly", a project that would never be completed. Erich Von Stroheim's meticulous attention to detail and endless retakes put the production way behind schedule and Swanson herself finally halted the production. Decades later, the unfinished film was botched together with production stills and photographs and declared a masterpiece by film critics.

She attempts one comeback in 1941. But her major comeback was Sunset Boulevard with DeMille in 1950. it's heralded as the most memorable comeback in film history. Even so, her next few projects were only mildly successful. But she still appeared in a couple films and television through the 1970's.

Now granted, she would take a hiatus for years at a time, but her film career spanned 60 years! Her filmography totals 52 movies. These days, that's not a lot, but she was also a clothing designer, artist, and she founded Essence of Nature Cosmetics. Last count of 7 husbands. She survived the Talkies, was one classy lady and also one of the greatest divas of her time.

A few quotes of hers that I enjoy:

"I have gone through a long apprenticeship. I have gone through enough of being a nobody. I have decided that when I am a star, I will be every inch and every moment the star! Everybody from the studio gateman to the highest executive will know it."-Swanson in 1922.

-Telegram sent to Hollywood from Swanson on her way home from France.
"Arriving with the Marquis tomorrow morning. Stop. Please arrange ovation."

"I always look ahead. I never regret. I have excitement every waking minute."

"I can smell the character of a woman the instant she enters a room, but I have the world's worst judgment of men."

Quotes from "Sunset Boulevard" - of course I have to include these, it's one of my favorite movies (and fav Broadway show, for that matter)

"I am big, it's the pictures that got small."
-Norma (Swanson) to Joe (Holden)

"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces. There just aren't any faces like that anymore. Maybe one. Garbo."
-Norma to Joe