Garbo LaughsThis is a quixotic tale about movie love. Harriet Browning is so saturated with old movies, seen repeatedly and swallowed whole, that she no longer fits into this world. Equally addicted are her three companions-of-the-screen: a son who loves Frank Sinatra, a daughter with Bette Davis eyes, and an earthy sidekick named after Dinah Shore. Breaking in upon this quiet backwater come two refugees from Hollywood, the jaded widow of a famous screenwriter and her movie-expert stepson. They are Harsh Reality. With them come blackouts, arguments, accidents, illness, and sudden death. But what chance does real life stand when we can watch movies instead? In this brilliant, sad-eyed comedy of secondhand desire, movies and movie lovers come first. |
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Page 99
... Bill Bender at the counter , a stooped old gent in his eighties , big - shouldered , white- haired , whose pale old eyes looked at her and momentarily drew a blank . She helped him out . “ Harriet Browning , " she said . " Our sunrooms ...
... Bill Bender at the counter , a stooped old gent in his eighties , big - shouldered , white- haired , whose pale old eyes looked at her and momentarily drew a blank . She helped him out . “ Harriet Browning , " she said . " Our sunrooms ...
Page 214
... Bill Bender served tea on a tray , then read aloud one of Akhmatova's poems . It was the one about letting " the terrible stranger " into your house . When he finished , Harriet said , “ A terrible visitor is coming to us in January ...
... Bill Bender served tea on a tray , then read aloud one of Akhmatova's poems . It was the one about letting " the terrible stranger " into your house . When he finished , Harriet said , “ A terrible visitor is coming to us in January ...
Page 484
... Bill Bender's lawn , then thump . Both lay in the grass , having crashed into the side of his house . The dumb blondes of the bird world , thought Harriet sadly . When did you ever see a starling barrel into the side of a house ? After ...
... Bill Bender's lawn , then thump . Both lay in the grass , having crashed into the side of his house . The dumb blondes of the bird world , thought Harriet sadly . When did you ever see a starling barrel into the side of a house ? After ...
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Common terms and phrases
asked asked Harriet Audrey Hepburn aunt beautiful beside better Bill Bender Buster Keaton called Cary Grant coffee dark desk Dinah Dinah Bloom door downstairs eyes face feel felt fern Fiona Chester Frank Sinatra Fred Astaire funny Garbo Gene Kelly glass going Greta Garbo hair hand Harriet Browning Harriet looked hated head heard Jack Frame Jean Simmons Jim Creak Kenny and Jane Kenny's kids kitchen knew laughed Leah Leah's Lew's Lionel living room Marlon Brando mind morning mother never night Ottawa Pauline Kael Peter O'Toole rain remember riet Rod Steiger Sean Connery Shawl side sleep smile snow someone song detective stayed stood stopped story street talk tell There's thing thought Harriet told took trees turned upstairs voice walk watch What's window woman wonder write