The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-17

do olaS 40 INV
All these affairs seem to have
been rapturous but brief. To the
same period belongs a very warm
friendship with a. tall, handsome
young actor who is noted. now, for
his melancholy disposition. The
man in the case is now married to
pretty woman whom he adores..
But he never speaks of Greta, and
his friends forbear to mention her
in his hearing.
Another admirer who was adj
mitted to very close friendship with
Greta at this time has lately re-
entered her life, and rumor has
been very busy coupling their
names.
THE last night in Stockholm ar
Il rived. Greta and Stiller de-
cided to celebrate it together. He
said she might choose where she
would like to go.
Without hesitation, she voted for
the Oscars Theater, where "Orloff"
was being played.
In the very first interval Stilller
called round to the star dressing
room to pay his respects to the lead
ing lady, Naima Wifstrand. Almost
at once big-hearted Naima recalled
the same timid little student had
left bouquets of flowers for her at
the porter's room of the theater.
But Greta followed the actress
movements with looks of alteration.
Every now and then she would
whisper. ut isn't true. I must be
dreaming. Am I really meeting her
at last?"
1t is strange to think of the Great
Carlo, who so resents fan-worship,
being such an ardent fan herself.
In America absolutely nothing
turned out as Greta had expected,
although the voyage across the At
lantic was one of unalloyed delight.
But Stiller, it seems, was gradual
ly weaving her of her desire to lean
on him The time was soon to come
when would need all her forti-
tude ano self-reliance.
They arrived at the very worst
time Of the year. New York lay
sweltering in blankets of summer
heat. Stiller had business that kept
him whirling in taxis through The
town. Greta could only console her
self with a cold bath, in which she
would remain for hours on end.
The future was not so secure that
they could live recklessly. They had
to put up at second-class hotel.
The result was an accumulation of
discomfort such as Greta had never
imagined.
For three months this purgatory
endured. At last came instructions
to proceed to California.
HERE, indeed, welcome await
l. Il ed them. The flowers Greta
had dreamed of came to life in the
arm of the official reception COM
mittee. There were photographers,
too, and reporters galore to record
the arrival of the newcomers from
Sweden.
Greta seems mainly to have i'm
pressed them by her unusual stature.
Her broad shoulders, her long legs
and swinging gait, were so different
from the charms of the petite, or
chidaceous Hollywood ladies, that
everyone wondered what the pro-
diIcorc onl 20 ~ o,o MAN x,,o,,1J H.
able to make of this angular Swed-
ish giantess, who looked so demure,
and seemed to hold herself aloof.
Santa Monica, home of the little
Swedish colony, became quite an
agreeable place to Greta. Cut off
from the rest of the, population,
speaking their own language, keep
ing to their own food and customs,
the Swedes made the most of their
exile, and remained, in way, in
dependent. Happily occupied as
these days were, Greta longed for
the time when she would begin work
on her first picture.
But the powers-that-be, as the
newspapers had predicted, scarcely
Knew what to do with her. They
were scared of her unusual proper
tons and the many other problems
she presented.
Photographic tests were made, out
as in Berlin, they proved almost
hopeless. At last Arnold Genthe,
the celebrated camera artist, made
a number of beautiful studies which
turned the tide of opinion in Greta's
favor, and she was chosen for the
leading role in. picture called
The Torrent
A ND now the greatest disappoint-
l. n ment of all awaited Greta. She
found that it was not Stiller who
had been selected to direct this pic
ture, but a total stranger, one who
spoke not a word of her language.
The producer was Bonita Bell.
Beneath this final blow, Greta lost
heart, and she would have thrown
up her contract if Stiller himself
had not advised her to be patient.
With a degree of placement re-
markable in one of his outstanding
personality, he threw the whole
weight of his influence into
strengthening her to meet the new
situation-although he knew quite
well that the loss of Greta might
prove very damaging to his own fu-
ture as a producer.
1t was not easy for a young girl,
just 81, to cope with all the prob
lens that seemed to engulf Greta at
this period.
In Europe she had been accus-
toned to working with only a few