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From: Pocketfulofmiracles
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  • My grand pa's cousin is Gloria Swanson!!!! So I am her third cousin and I still have that LAST NAME!!!!!! I am not kidding

  • Brilliant tale.

  • I watched one of her film or short with Rudolph (don't know how long a film was back then) on youtube, so had to search for her interviews. What a brave, and dedicated (unnecessary but really dedicated) actress. Going to watch more :)

  • She was so magnificently beautiful. Those gorgeous eyes. Gloria Swanson was such a great talented star of her time. May she RIP!

    Thank you for posting!

  • I love you Gloria!!!

  • This was an actor. I saw her many years ago in Butterflies are Free. There was not a dry eye in the theater. I will never forget the power of her face and delivery of her words. The best.

  • Very classy and soft spoken, would love to have sat with her and listened to her wonderful stories of early movies!

  • why could i be a movie star in the 20s and marry women like this!! these were the very wild and liberal parents of our grandparents!!

  • She looked really great for her age. She had very youthful eyes.

  • she is all natural no stuffed tits no stretched and pinned back skin no botox no collagen- unlike the shallow bitches that call themselves "stars" today - real grace here not a celluloid slut of today

  • Are you guys blind? Bleh!

  • Her skin is so smooth in this, it's amazing. She never went in the sun at all I'd imagine.

  • She's amazingly gorgeous, so many years after her film career.

  • Even after her career 'heyday' Miss Swanson was beautiful. What a life she led. Good times, bad times, throughout it all she seemed to have kept a pretty good balance and outlook on life. One of the greatest actresses of all time!

  • sloaches 

  • Some people truly LIVE life!!

  • She was also an ORGANIC FOOD advocate as far back as 1927! Perhaps that is why she is so utterly radiant.

  • 2:24 my goodness is that Norma Desmond's parlor???!!!

  • Have you ever seen or heard a more beautiful 80 year-old?!

  • She is so beautiful; I wish I had known her. But then can you truly know a legend?

  • she is so gorgeous and her voice hasn't seemed to have aged at all! It's so youthful and beautiful to hear...

  • Gloria Swanson was interesting -read Swanson on Swanson 1980- check out the silents really interesting films from another time...

  • @tamerswan thank you

  • her voice is gorgeous

  • 0:05 LOL

  • This is, word-for-word (almost) what Miss Swanson wrote in her autobiography. I wish I was as wonderful as ahe was. She well and truly lived her life... Fabulous - and ALWAYS ready for her close-up. x

  • She was ABSOLUTELY brilliant playing the Norma Desmond character on Sunset Boulevard!!!!

    She was a REAL DIVA!!!!

  • A real diva ! She had a great personality !

    What a beautiful voice that sounds so young !

    What beautiful, very intense eyes !

  • Like THOUSANDS of vibrators!

  • a legend but she was off her rocker

    "1000 vibrators?" hahahaah!!!

  • WOW that is so scary. I admire her strength for doing that scene. Gloria Swanson was so beautiful. Thank you for posting!

  • Crazy Lady!

  • Wow... that was wild.....  She's got some guts.... or had, god bless her soul..

  • Wow...... It was sure was a different world then...!

  • She was around 80 at this time. A film legend!

  • @lasuvidaboy 81 actually. ;-)

  • perfect final line to the clip.

  • Swanson looked amazing, at least partially, because she was just a nut for nutrition. She thought sugar was evil and never went near it. Didn't she write a book on it? Anyway, look at that skin!

  • This is what STARS were made of and why I find most of today's movies with computer graphics, downbeat themes, slam cuts, graphic violence, and GQ actors and actresses you can barely tell one from the other, so boring

  • Brilliant. Could listen to stories like this, forever. I SO want to see this whole documentary but it's so difficult to find (at least on dvd. I threw away my vcrs!)

  • Madonna will look like her in 10 years.

  • Terri Hatcher could play her at this age in a biopic she looks just like her even if she is 30+ years younger than Gloria in this interview

  • Such an amazing actress, with great courage.

  • I know who's stuffed...

  • Superb!

  • brilliant...as always.....

  • wow - i would have had 8000 heart attacks...this lady is BRAVE! lol

  • getting old sucks

  • @mindonatrip LOL!  It beats the alternative.

  • @carrotjuse whats the alternative? die young... thats the way to go :)

  • @mindonatrip No way! I plan on being a wrinkled, mean old man in a walker harassing the teenagers in the neighborhood.

  • she tells a great story. and yes, that is an amazing feeling having a lion on your back roaring. here kitty kitty. guns ready.

  • " It was like thousands of vibrators all over me..."

  • James Mason! Immediately recognizeable voice. You should put his name in the keywords! (unless you're deliberately keeping it out of the keywords so the thought police don't get you.)

    1980, eh? Swanson looks amazing. :) She would have been either 80 or 81 there. She also has some of the most intense eyes of any woman in Hollywood. Garbo did, too, for that matter.

  • She sounded young for being 81

  • amazing story! And she has the most beautiful eyes.

  • I'm still big, its the pictures that got small!

  • Oh crap! she had guts

  • can't imagine anyone having the crust to address Swanson as "fellow," especially considering the way she looked in 1919...must have been typical of the period

  • Around 0:36 or 0:37, unbeknowing to her, she makes a mistake in her description of Cecil B DeMill's reaction to her insistence on partaking in the filming of the "Lion Scene". She says he referred to her as young (fellow). Oops. :-)

  • @Democrat64

    "Young Fella" was Cecil B DeMill's nickname for her. In fact, it's referenced in the film "Sunset Boulevard", during Cecil B DeMill's cameo, he lovingly calls the Norma Desmond character, "Young Fella"

  • @crpeoplemover --- Hmmm, interesting...I never knew. Thanks

  • Comment removed

  • Watch "Male and Female", it's probably the best silent film I've ever seen! Netflix has a pristine print.

  • @willruddock

    I like the way you put that "singing without a melody"!

  • @willruddock

    That's a beautiful way to put it. You want to hear he r talk for a while, look up her intro to QUEEN KELLY.

  • I mention Swanson in The Celebrity Song.

  • LOL I love it when she says "we didn't know that then!" lol

  • she truly had a pair! lol

  • OMG she's amazing! aged so well! and she speaks so wonderfully!

  • 'i wonder which one is stuffed?' that's too funny!

  • well, it might sound stupid, but she reminds me Madonna... they have the same way to look, speak or move, I dunno, but there's something similar between them... mho.

  • it's the attitude I think!

  • The gal did it. What times those were...to lie there like that...and that great line at the end...

    Gotta like the big booboo of a lion...

  • That story about the lions is incredible. Man, did she ever have guts to do that. Notice that she said the experience was awesome and a whole bunch of other adjectives, but she did NOT say it was frightening. I'm in awe.

  • A True Star!!!!

    CliveX

  • the eternity gooodes of the holywood gloria alive for ecver in holywood

  • Zeekwolfe, I had only one experience with talking with Ms. Swanson back in 1981 after her autobiography came out. I was a very young man who wrote her a letter about how much I enjoyed her book. She took the time to call my home and ask that I call her back. She thought I must be a nice young man and wanted me to call her back collect. Yes, she was a proponent of health food and of course as a movie legend had every right to talk and say what she thought. I found her charming, and lovely.

  • Fascinating footage! THANKS so much for sharing it with us!  Have always been a HUGE fan of the late great Gloria Swanson. I very intelligent, articulate, creative & talented lady. Too bad she was never given a role as complex as Norma Desmond after she made "Sunset Blvd" (one of the greatest performances ever given in the cinema). Her autobiography from back in the late 70's (or early 80's) is a VERY entertaining & informative read. Amazing woman...who led an extraordinary life! Cheers!

  • Beautiful images from the 'Male and Female' scenes, that was great cinema !

    Gloria is wonderful.

  • Gloria,I'll being always love you:) You was great actress and big star...

  • Could I please get some of the youth potion she drank? My gosh, her skin was beautiful and she was gorgeous! Plus her voice sounds so young.

  • WOW. She was great...She has such beautiful eyes.....RIP

  • i think madonna will end up loking as fab as gloria

  • You wish!

  • Such a diva!

  • She was a health food nut at the end of her life. To say she was annoying is to put it milldly.

  • In what way annoying ? As in health food nut = annoying ?

    (Which I don't neccesarily agree with)

  • Swanson was annoying because she tried to appear on every television and radio station in the country to talk about health food. She was shrill and interupted those who disagreed with her. She was one of those public personalities that truly merited the phrase "put a sock in it."

  • Interesting. Will see what I stumble upon (in that regard), I know near to nothing about her. =)

  • Have you lived in that time to talk about her that way???

  • Well, if you mean...was I alive when Gloria Swanson was still living...the answer is yes. You get a view (sort of) of her personality from the film "Sunset Boulevard." No, she didn't keep a pet chimp or live in a drafty old mansion. And she did not drive around town in an Isotta Fraschini. She reminded her friends of an aging, leathered tart or even a gargoyle. All the health suppliments and health foods she endorsed did not add one minute to her life.

  • I just wondering why are you so anti-Swanson...

    And I don't think she was like Norma at all. And she doesn't look in any of those interviews like "leathered tart or even a gargoyle", no sir (or ma'm?) . She just looks a regular aged but still beautiful woman with awesome eyes!

  • You didn't know her.

  • That's right, I didn't (regretfully). And truly I don't really care what she ate or didn't ate for her breakfast. I just love her!

    But did YOU?? Did you knew her to say all that??

  • She was great, a TRUE actress to the end. It is noted, she was in her 80s when this interview was recorded, and she is speaking of something which was recorded some 60 years earlier

  • "Without me there would be a paramount pictures!"

  • I love her eyes <3

  • Wow! I must research this lady! She is utterly amazing!!!

    And God Almighty!!! A finer wine was never aged than this woman!

  • @QuartuvLarry Read her book then you will know that she was much more then the movies she made.

  • @QuartuvLarry The first lady I remember who ate brown rice! When an interviewer asked her (1975) : How does your skin remain so smooth?(Or something like that)Her answer was: BROWN RICE! Haha,that was an eye-opener to me...

  • The great Norma Desmond on "Sunset Boulebard"!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Terrific and a joy to watch...ty for posting and Gloria indeed RIP !!

  • rip

  • Oh wow.

  • "I wonder which one was stuffed?" lol!  That was a fascinating interview. Thanks for posting this nugget.

  • Gloria Swanson possesses the utmost elegence and tranquility that I cannot even define what kind of person she is. Even at the age of 70 something or what ever she is there, she is so beautiful and with the accompanying music in the background, an aura of majestic proportions is created; my GOD!

    Yours bewilderedly,

    julianallees

    19th October, 2009 10:55am

  • I agree, "Swanson on Swanson" is a wonderful read! I enjoyed it so much I read it twice and will a third time some day. Not only fascinating about her life, but gives a true understanding of silent-era Hollywood. Many interesting personalities are revealed, as only Miss Swanson knew and was able to confide. And she does tell all! From 1st husband W. Beery to details of Joe Kennedy, nothing's held back. Out of print but can be bought used. A must-read for buffs of biography or old Hollywood.

  • Damn... 85 years old...

  • Ah, the sugar blues - I've had them many times. And like I dope I go back for more lol.

  • No, it wasn't Dirk Bogarde (who died in 1999), it was Dirk Benedict whom Gloria introduced to a macrobiotic diet and a holistic dietician kn 1975. I had read it some years ago, but look it up on Wikipedia if you need confirmation.

  • I don't care if she did have a torrid affair with Joe Kennedy I love Swanson.

    The clip here on YouTube with Janis Joplin and Dick Cavett show a woman very comfortable in her own skin.

    This is a true legend.

  • Gloria kept her youthful face and attitude by engaging in whole, natural foods when that concept wasn't even heard of yet. She helped A-Team actor Dirk Benedict beat cancer and she also donated all her literature on healing foods, etc. to the NY Library. Remarkable woman and way ahead of her time...

  • dirk bogarde not dirk benedict

  • ...she also wrote a book called "sugar blues"

  • She looks very good for an 80 year old, without trying to look younger.

  • With voice or silence... she was the greatest star - of them all.

  • i ADORE THIS WOMAN !!!!!!!!!!!

  • always ready for her closeup, Mr. DeMille!

  • I love her old work to me she was the soap star of the 20's

  • Amazing and Beautiful woman. This painting the lions bride is for sale on E Bay right now and I can see why Gloria was so taken by the image as a child and driven to shoot the scene some years later.

  • Wow she was still actually beautiful here, in her 80's.

  • is she still alive or is she dead

  • Of course she is dad - this movie with the lyon was made 1919! If she had only 17 years( but she was older) she must be today 107 ;)

  • I understand she is dad, but what I really asked if she was dead...?

  • I looked in Wikipedia because I'm interested also, she was born 1899 and died 1983.

    Best regards!

  • Her eyes were so expressive. I believe she started in silent film which may explain her animated eyes.

  • Truly an actress

  • Incredible, i adore her!!!

  • i wanna see more!

  • This is more thrilling than THOUSANDS of VIBRATORS all over my body!

  • wrong, though she looks great, she did smoke her whole life. But she was a health nut b4 it was in vogue-God bless her

  • she looks sooo great and lucid!

  • Gloria Swanson defined the idea of the female lead in films. Today, well, she might be convinced to do kung-fu scenes - but I think a star of that magnitude does not need to look like a computer game to make the role alive.

  • What a hottie, I'm digging her up

  • I still can't believe that a lady at that age could still have not only her looks, but still be the very definition of class. Offers a glimpse of what she must have brought to the movies at the peak of her career.

  • Wow, she really had guts! It must' have been after this that Mr. De Mille started calling her 'Young Fella', as he said he did that because she was more fearless than most men he knew.

    Thanks so much for posting this, what a great story

  • What a beautiful woman , even in her mature ages still was gorgeous..

  • I will absolutely never get enough of her. I hope that I have her style and grace when I am past 60.

  • hot damn she was 81? She looks AMAZING. Swanson often spoke of her commitment to healthy living - no smokes, no drinks and no sugars.

  • Still lovely

  • wow..she did taht witha real lion?damn that girl had some BALLS!!!u willl not see julia roberts or nicole kidman do that..LOL...and damns he was 80 year sold..in this...and loooks like THAT?at 80?wow.

  • what a character

  • she is so beautiful!

  • I wondered why DeMille called Norma, "Young Fellow" in SUNSET BLVD. Now I know! It was his pet name for Gloria in real life!

  • Are those her real teeths??

  • she aged so well I love her voice

  • She should've won Oscar for her performance in Sunset Blvd.

  • Gloria, the great star of ANY era...and Sunset Boulevard, the film against which other must be judged...simply classic.

  • glo was so beautiful always

  • a thousand vibrators?

  • Now we know where Anthony Powell got the idea for Norma's Salome outfit in the end of the musical version of "Sunset Boulevard!" What a great homage to Gloria on his behalf...

  • Gloria Swanson big star in the silent era, the truth is that who remember the silent era Gloria Swanson is a legend a famous name from silent era. But Sunset Boulevard is going to be always there to remind as the LEGENDARY and STYLISH Gloria Swanson !!!

  • She died 3 years after this interview at age 86...wow! Her skin and eyes and personality seemed vibrant, and her speech, facial expressions and personality seemed so pleasant and entertaining even in her last years! Go Gloria!

  • I heard she had a very strict and specialized dietary regimen. Whatever it was, it worked! It's hard to believe, looking at this footage, that she was in her 80s at the time of this interview!

  • you sure about that ?

    i thought she was born in 1900

  • she was born in 1899

  • gloria had such class and of course beauty

  • Glorie Swanson is such a fox!

  • damn thsi woman was over 80 in this clip...?hard to believe..well..foxiest loookin 80 year old i have ever seen..

  • LEGEND

  • She had such a sweet voice, very different from the voice she used in "Sunset Boulevard".

  • just amazing!!!!

  • Still the beautiful big eyes! They are still the same!

  • "I am big; it's the pictures that have gotten small!" Gloria Swanson is the greatest Hollywood star that ever graced the silver screen.

  • the voice is James Mason- i KNEW IT.

  • oh god, i saw SUNSET BOULEVARD 81 times (from 1982 up to last thirsday...), and i've always been an admirer of GLORIA SWANSON! i also saw that amazing and almost increible interview where she appears together with janis joplin... but THIS one is even more crazy, gloria is so full of life and so witty and confirms that de mille called her "young fellow" just as he did in the greatest picture ever shot: SUNSET BOULEVARD by billy wilder...