An aging Greta Garbo (1905 - 1990) taken in 1953

Good things never last. Same with beautiful women. In fact, more so with them. Here is a colorized photo of Greta Garbo (1905 - 1990) taken by George Hoyningen-Huene in 1953 when she was already 48 years old. This is one of the rare photos of a retired and reclusive Greta Garbo where she posed for a photographer when she never trusted them. She appeared to have aged gracefully but the ravages of time remained obvious.

One would have expected Greta to live the rest of her life in seclusion in her hometown of Sweden, but she returned to the U.S. and In 1951, Greta obtained her American Citizenship and bought a 7-room apartment in upscale New York. Despite surviving her bout with breast cancer in 1984, she suffered a condition that let her to undergo dialysis for six hours three times a week at the Rogozin Institute in New York Hospital. Greta eventually succumbed to pneumonia and renal failure. in a hospital in 1990. Her biographer claims that towards the end, she also suffered from gastrointestinal and periodontal ailments. Her remains were cremated in Manhattan, and her ashes were interred in 1999 at Skogskyrkogården Cemetery just south of her native city Stockholm in Sweden. Garbo had invested wisely, primarily in stocks and bonds, and left her entire estate, worth over $32M ($61M in today's value) to her niece, Gray Reisfield.

Greta Garbo, up close, 1939

Colorized a photo of Greta Garbo taken by Clarence Sinclair Bull for her penultimate Hollywood film, "Ninotchka" released in 1939. Her last film would be "Two-Faced Woman" released in 1941. By this time, Greta has been labeled "Box Office Poison" along with other celebrities like Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Luise Rainer, Katherine Hepburn, Mae West, and Marline Dietrich in an article published by Harry Brandt on behalf of the Independent Theatre Owners of America, The critical failure of Two-Faced Woman was said to have devastated and humiliated her and blamed the dearth of good materials and the studio system that has been plaguing her career over the last 5 years. This has led her to finally abandoned her Hollywood career of 16 years and returned to Sweden.

Colorized photo of Amalia Fuentes (Amalia Muhlach), Philippine movie queen in the 50s and 60s

Regarded the Elizabeth Taylor of Philippine cinema during its golden age (1950-1970), Amalia Fuentes reigned as a movie queen with the most beautiful face in the cinema during the height of her career that spanned 57 years before retiring in the U.S. She started with her 1956 film with Juancho Gutierrez in "Movie Fan" where the two were promoted by Sampaguita Pictures as a love team before having her paired with Romeo Vasques whom she eventually married. She appeared in 130 films and during her later career, she produced 7 films and served as a member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB)/

Great Garbo (1905 - 1990) in her 1935 film "Anna Karenina"

Colorized a promotional photo of Greta Garbo (1905 - 1990) in her 1935 film "Anna Karenina", a remake of a silent movie of the same title with her supposed lover and fellow film star John Gilbert. It is interesting to note that Greta never married or had children. She did not show up to her wedding ceremony with longtime screen partner John Gilbert, saying to the press she had feared being dominated by him when all her life, she has been the one dominating. It was essentially a ruse to cover her lesbian nature which studio bosses already knew and fostered her enigmatic image to protect her from adverse public opinion and her standing at the box office.

All throughout her career, she was able to create an air of mystery around her personal life, never attending socials, parties or an Oscar ceremony even when nominated. Her biographer Barry Paris claimed that she was "technically bisexual, predominantly lesbian, and increasingly asexual as the years went by." Garbo struggled greatly with her sexuality, only becoming involved with other women in affairs she could control.

Before moving to America it is claimed she was seduced by 23-year-old Marlene Dietrich, described by Hollywood historian Diana McLellan as a “bohemian young mama with a notorious and compulsive appetite for the sexual seduction of other beautiful women, particularly backstage.” Garbo with a very sensitive nature ended up so hurt by Dietrich that she denied knowing her for the rest of her life. Garbo moved to Hollywood, where she continued an intimate relationship with actress-writer Salka Viertel and Mercedes de Acosta who revealed their lesbian relationships with Greta. It was also rumored that she made backstage advances to a yet unknown 19-year old Joan Crawford who was herself a bisexual

Joan Crawford, colorized from a photo by Yousuf Karsh, ca 1948-49

Greta Garbo (1905 - 1990), colorized from a photo taken ca 1932

Colorized photo of Audrey Hepburn (1939 - 1993), ca mid 1950s

Audrey Hepburn (4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) in a mid 1950s photo

Colorized a promotional photo of film and fashion icon Audry Hepburn, a Belgian born British actress with a film, TV and stage career spanning from 1948 to 1993. Considered by some to be one of the most beautiful women of all time, and a fashion sense that has become iconic not just during her time but all time, as well. 

Colorized photo of Audrey Hepburn (1939 - 1993), ca 1954

Colorized a promotional photo of Audrey Hepburn (Audrey Kathleen Ruston) for her 1954 film Sabrina.

Colorize photo a little Filipina child amidst the ruins of liberated Manila, 1945

Little girl holding a small Philippine flag and selling bananas, possible to GI soldiers who just liberated Manila from the Japanese during WWI.  Building in the foreground is the Aduana in Intramuros, a historic landmark involving the first Spanish settlement in the city, but was used extensively as a Japanese garrison during their occupation. Manila was among the most devastated cities during the war. This was caused mostly by artillery shells and bombing by American liberating forces as they eliminated all Japanese resistance, often reducing into rubble those that have been identified as Japanese holdouts.  There have been speculations that had the U.S. waited for the surrender of Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese occupation forces in the Philippines would have peacefully laid down their arms, sparing Manila from the utter destruction.  But it is said that Gen. Douglas MacArthur had to fulfill his "I shall return" promise at all cost, as he felt he owed that much to say "I have returned" to Filipinos and not say they were forgotten.  MacArthur returned to the Philippines in Oct 1944 and the Battle of Manila that reduced the city to ruins was from Feb - Mar 1945.  Japan surrendered in August of that year.

Young Ava Gardner (1922 - 1990) colorized from an undated photo, ca early to mid-1940s

A young pre-hollywood Ava Gardner (1922 - 1990), colorized from a 1941 photo

Colorized a photo of the young Ava Gardner taken by photographer Larry Tarr in 1940 when she was just 19 years old. Gardner was visiting her sister Beatrice in New York , when Beatrice's husband Larry Tarr, a professional photographer, offered to take her portrait. He was so pleased with the results that he displayed the finished product in the front window of his Tarr Photography Studio on Fifth Avenue.  MGM talent scout Barnard Duhan spotted Gardner's photo in Tarr's studio and commented to him that the photo should be sent to MGM. Tarr did so immediately and shortly after, Ava who was a student at Atlantic Christian College was interviewed at MGM's New York office by Al Altman, head of MGM's New York talent department. The rest is, as they say, is history.

Ava Gardner, colorized undated rare photo, possibly mid-1950s

Colorized photo of an Australian soldier in WWII with facial features that could have been Hollywood material.

Astronaut on the moon, colorized with a lot of liberties

Colorized a 70s photo of a U.S. astronaut on the moon with some liberties in applying photoshop effects such as rendering a flare and compositing some stars.  I just don't like empty spaces.