Sarah Palin: Washington's Silent Movie Star... But She's No Greta Garbo
Comparing Sarah Palin to Garbo, known as "The Face" and "The Sphinx" seems so wrong in many ways, and right only in one.
Garbo, the Swedish-born actress, one of the most glamorous movie stars of the 1920s and '30s, was famous for shunning publicity. She granted no interviews (except at the beginning of her career), signed no autographs, attended no premieres, and answered no fan mail. Her image was her mystique. Bette Davis called her appearance on screen "pure witchcraft."
Garbo's famous line was said to be, "I want to be alone," spoken in a heavy accent, made "want" sound like "vont."
Sarah Palin arrived in New York this week for the opening session of the United Nations and over the course of two days met with a smorgasbord of foreign leaders and policy experts. Motorcades of black SUVs, which seem more appropriate as the entourage of a rap artist, whisked Bush, Palin, and McCain through the streets, past real New Yorkers.
Palin has been shielded from the media since she was announced as John McCain's running mate a month ago, granting few interviews, holding no press conferences, and exchanging a minimum of words with reporters on the campaign trail.
My father said it well, "I think a president should be forced to walk among his people so he can hear what they think." Today Mayor Michael Bloomberg seems one of few model statesman, among his many admirable attributes, taking the Subway to work everyday.
Imagine a Saturday Night Live with Palin, shrouded in seclusion as Garbo was until her death in her New York City apartment, refusing to make any public appearances. Palin, I imagine, will be partying behind closed doors if John McCain has the audacity to not show up for the debate scheduled for Friday. Playing Garbo, she would have an indoor hunting range installed by the First Dude, where she, her cronies, and Henry Kissinger, could hang out. Can't you hear Palin deliver the line in her Fargo Alaska Redux accent: "I vont to be alone."
Of course, Sarah Palin is not fleeing from fame, just the opposite, only she isn't talking. But when she does, like her interview earlier this month with ABC's Charlie Gibson, when she acknowledged that she had never met a head of state, it is billed as if she were a silent star making the transition to talkies, although her handlers would like to delay the shift for as long as possible.
Imagine the headline: "Palin Talks!" Garbo's first speaking role was publicized in Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie in 1930 with the slogan "Garbo Talks." Garbo's first line uttered was "Gimme a whisky with a ginger ale on the side. And don't be stingy, baby." (Note to SNL writers: the set should be the Brick bar from Northern Exposure. Palin to toast herself to the cameras with a big glass of cheap red wine.)
When I first began my career, I was doing celebrity reporting for the New York Times. More often than not, photographers and television cameras were permitted on the red carpet, but print reporters were not. Access was strictly controlled by publicists who wanted to spread their client's image, "virally" as is the marketing term, while making sure their show ponies didn't uttered a single damaging word. This did not only apply to the blond starlets of our era -- Brit, Paris, Lindsay, but to serious actors and actresses who one assumes would be able to hold their own.
Many times, I was invited as a journalist to cover a movie premiere or party only to be greeted by yet another robotic publicist with blond streaks in high-heeled black Manolo boots, "You can't talk to her, can't you just watch?"
Just how interesting is observing Cynthia Nixon -- as if it were rare bird watching -- spiral notebook in hand, as the actress makes her way across the room, glass of wine in hand, speaking to everyone but the press? We were both grads of Barnard after all. Weeks before, I had seen Cynthia on the subway.
It happened with countless other celebs -- Tilda Swinton and David O. Russell, the director of I Heart Huckabees who, when he learned I was a member of the press, threw me out of a screening I was invited to cover for the Times at Columbia University, of all places, with its J School.
An invitation arrived to Calvin Klein's "lingerie party" at Milk Studios in Chelsea, where I was asked to come cover Lindsay Lohan among others. I happened to step out of my cab as the actress was arriving and despite her publicist's attempt to cut me off from entering the elevator, I rode up with Lindsay and her handler. As we stepped into the four-by-four metal cube, her attack poodle publicist turned to me and said, "You're not allowed to talk to her."
It was enough to make you want to spit in her mascara-clumped eye. Do we live in a communist country? Well, I said hi to flame-haired Lindsay and she said hi back.
Now, with Palin and McCain, who already seems to have assumed office, it feels like we live in a communist state. The government now owns most of our financial institutions. As my mom said, "I feel like we live in a South American country, where every day we wake up to another crazy crisis."
One of my most memorable interviews was with Helen Thomas, who covered the White House for 57 years. Her questions are so tough that the Bush administration systematically ignored her and never called on her questions. Ms. Thomas, who was born in 1920, was wearing a navy blue suit, had a 1940s brown bob, red lipstick and matching red nails. During her speech to the New York Women in Communications, she revealed her hankie to the audience. "Nasal drip," she said.
She revealed herself -- a novel thought.
Afterwards, I asked her if she thought she made the Bush press aides Scott McClellan and Ari Fleischer nervous.
"I think they should be questioned every day," Ms. Thomas said. "Give a hard time to the press secretaries. I don't know. I don't care. I just ask them because they are there. I pay them. Every American pays them. They're public servants. As far as I'm concerned, they ought to be doing their job and telling the truth."
The American people should demand the same of Sarah Palin and John McCain. We are not watching a movie or TV -- this is real life and it is getting increasingly scary. Who does she think she is, Garbo?
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Comparing Garbo to Palin is a direct insult to Garbo. Garbo was a very intelligent woman and also extremely talented. Her success was not solely based on being "The Face" or "The Swedish Sphinx" both terms she hated. It was the light of her soul shining in her eyes that leapt across the screen.
Last time I checked, Palin was all face and no soul.
Anyone who has studied movie history knows that Garbo never said the line which was attributed to her, "I want to be alone." The line was derived from one she spoke in Grand Hotel. After that, a newspaper cartoonist drew a caricature of Garbo that said the lines which have forever been tied to her.
Later on, Garbo herself said, "I never said I want to be alone, I said I want to be LET alone. That is all the difference
Garbo knew that to secure her legacy in film she had to step out of the spotlight forever, but she also wanted for all the world to be a normal, everyday person. And yes, she stopped public appearances but she didn't stop talking about her life and she did not live her life all alone. She had dear friends and confidants.
It is just like Cary Grant never actually saying "Judy, Judy, Judy" but everyone just blindly buying into it as though he did.
I guess fact checking doesn't just go undone in politics.
~OBAMA and BIDEN in 2008~
"Comparing Garbo to Palin is a direct insult to Garbo. "
Comparing that photo of Palin to the one of Greta Garbo is a direct insult to the photographer, Ruth Harriet Louise of MGM.
Don't forget "Play it again, Sam," another misquote.
Greta Garbo wasn't in Casablanca. That's Ingrid Bergman, and it isn't even her line that's misquoted.
i like eye candy as much as the next guy, and at 61 have dated some very beautiful women over the yrs. but, a 'hot' woman for me, is someone who makes me laugh, has a head on her shoulders, and will engage my mind, and make me think. i would get bored with pal in in about an hr. no substance
Shame about Palin. I actually thought she came across as a comptent Governor in her appeareance on CNBC's - Black Gold. Allowing herself to be treated so condescendingly by her own party is a real shame. Can't write her own speech, can't talk to the press, can't campaign by herself... Is there anything she can do by herself to prove she is truly a capable, independent woman? Perhaps she needs a hijab!
I wonder - in those moments after the glamour of being in the spotlight had worn off; the designer glasses put away; a good sit down with the family - does she come to her senses and realise how she's being pimped out by McCain, and lost her intergrity in the process? Does she really believe that she is being a role-model? Even though I did not support Hilary, this was not motivated by her gender - she earned my admiration and respect in the end because she was a genuine contender based on merits. Hilary is one I can proudly highlight to my niece and daughter as a true role-model it would be a travesty to include Palin in that category.
you know, after hearing from palin the last few days, it occured to me last night the word that sums up her personality and manner - she's a JOCK! her pontifications remind me of the things the coach or team captain would say to pump up the team before the big game. facts and details don't matter, all that matters is that the team is pumped when you're done.
Ms. Koppel, you're absolutely right. She's not a movie star, she's running for the second-highest office in a representative democracy. Public access is the definition of the job.
But when urbane columnists play to the balcony and mock her folksiness — and Ms. Koppel, you do it as well as anyone — it only feeds a fire that turns off otherwise non-political voters. Those are the same voters that need to be engaged, that need to see Palin put through her paces by the press.
You've got a great point here, Ms. Koppel, one that resonates. I'd just love to see you make it as earnest appeal to the congregation, rather than a smart joke to the choir.
Joe Biden is also "one of few model statesman", commuting everyday (by train?) from his Delaware home to Capitol Hill.
Be careful for what you ask for, you just might get it! Personally, I am so tired of the media posting the "Miss Wasilla" picture of Ms. Palin. It's so disrespctful. I am glad that the Rebublicans have not pulled out pictures of Ms. Clinton when she was young and on vacation in a bathing suit. They seem to understand that this is just not important to voters.
It is time for voters to hear more of Sarah Plain, not because the media is "demanding it", but we are very interested in how she would like to imporve our energy difficulties amoung other topics.
If Hillary Clinton was Obama's running mate- this whole campaign would consist of nothing but a catfight. Hillary would want to talk about real issues...S
And people would fall for it. Why do you think republicans were so upset that Hillary wasn't named as the running mate?
http://www
Lily, I love your analogy with the Swedish Sphinx, but I think it is becoming quite evident why they are hiding Sarah from the public.
We are starting to get an inkling of what this woman is all about, the tidbits of information we have gathered from the brief TV interviews she had, is revealing enough to make at least some preliminary judgment.
Gracie Allen was very funny when she was having a idiotic serious conversation with George Burns but we all knew that her stupidity was just an act.
Sarah Palin is also very funny but unlike Gracie her stupidity is no act, and her selection is not a joke.
Obama/Biden
For a return to sanity in America.
I love smart women with a sense of humor. Don't even care if they are HOT, but I have to admit the first impression is always - - the Hot Factor.
Sarah Palin is Hot, but her hotness is in inverse proportion to the square of how long she talks. Goes from hot to cold in 4.9 seconds. Her Couric interviews should seal her fate.
Ed Graham
Beauty, as well as ugly, is from the inside-out. From where I'm sitting, Sarah-Baby is just damned ugly through & through! I can see why they're trying to keep her under wraps. Every time she opens her pie hole, stupid falls out...Perh
When I see Palin anywhere, I never think of Garbo, I am thinking more along the lines of
her in a little cute skirt, smiling and jumping around waving GIANT POM POMS.
When this gig is over, the Dallas Cheerleaders will be signing her up for more work.
When Alaska was in need of a new Governor, their intent was to decorate the offices
with "pretty", knowing full well that Palin's husband would actually be running the place.
Let's be honest. The Dems left the door open when Obama chose Biden as VP over Hilary Clinton.
Obama is from Hawaii - The GOP countered with Palin who is from Alaska. The two states who always seem to be left out because they're not considered to be part of the 'continental united states.'
The Dems had history on their side, and don't kid yourself, the temptation to vote for something historical is overwhelming. The GOP countered with Palin - whether you vote Dem or GOP - history will be made by either the first African-American President or the first woman VP.
I don't believe that the GOP "stupidity show" is real. I think they're playing dumb -- that goes for George, Palin, and McCain. It's a code - the countdown until check-mate.
Good Luck my friends. May God preserve democracy and freedom for all.
"Who does she think she is, Garbo?"
She thinks she's a pit bull with lipstick. She's really a marionette operated by Karl Rove.
At this point she is just the proverbial pig in a poke. Let us see what we're getting before we get burned again, please.
Ok Hillary wasn't a style icon with the pantsuits in many colors but the amount of money spent by Cindy McCain on her designer duds from overseas is amazing when you count it all up. The majority of women in the US will not make the amount of money Cindy has spent on this election's clothes in our whole lifetimes. Palin has somehow dropped into the mix without even talking as much as surrogates the GOP has speaking her lines for her all the hwile wearing clothes that are somehow a blend of Hillary's style of pantsuits but with the material being made into other styles like dresses and all those various items which reminds me of a "off the rack" buy out when a small tonw hick gets an invite to the big city, Low class cheap knock offs, you know what I am talking about. If the GOP is going to keep her shut up and not talking they could at least get one of Cindy's stylists to step in and take over the clothes bit so Palin looks less like the "Moose skinner" she really is and more like she might be geting the big city job.
The strange thing is that Tina Fay as Palin has given more conferences than the actual Palin.
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