Garbo won the New York film critics, which back then was the only precursor leading up to the Oscars. And Garbo was a far bigger star. How did she lose to Louise Rainer, who already had won a blessid trophy the year before? Makes no sense.
shareRainer herself has no clue to this date! I cried in the end of Camille- and Garbo, in those last scenes, fulfilled completely the epithet used for her- divine. I called Camille her proof at possessing a real and rare acting genius.
shareThere's lots of speculation as to how Garbo never won an Oscar (except for the BS honorary award she got years after she retired) but the most likely reason is that her refusal to give interviews, go to parties and in general make nice with the top brass at MGM worked against her every time she was nominated.
shareThat could very well be but I tend to agree with Spencer Tracy that the nominations should be enough because the performances within the categories are so very different to each other. Still, although I thought Rainer's Anna Held was delightful, Garbo really was robbed.
shareI don't think not winning an Academy Award hinded or hurt Garbo's career. I find the Academy Awards over the past 15 years less to do with pure acting talent and more to do with who's turn it is, and who is popular. On a side note, I think the most deserving Oscar of all time went to Vivien Leigh for Streetcar, who I think gives one of the greatest performances the cinema has ever seen.
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