Greta Garbo of 1931 and 1932, respectively, and Garbo was dubbed "the greatest money-making machine ever put on screen." Garbo's close friend Mercedes de Acosta then penned a screenplay for her to portray Joan of Arc but producers rebuffed the idea and the film was shelved. After appearing in "As You Desire Me" (1932), the first of three Garbo films which co-starred Melvyn Douglas, Garbo's MGM contract expired and she returned to Sweden. After nearly a year of negotiations, Garbo agreed to renew her contract with MGM on the condition she would star in "Queen Christina" and her salary would be increased
Greta Garbo one film. Garbo received her nomination for her work in both "Anna Christie" and "Romance". She lost out to Irving Thalberg's wife, Norma Shearer, who won for "The Divorcee". In 1937, Garbo was nominated for "Camille", but Luise Rainer won for "The Good Earth". Finally, in 1939, Garbo was nominated for "Ninotchka", but again came away empty-handed. "Gone With the Wind" swept the major awards, including Best Actress, which went to Vivien Leigh. She was awarded an Academy Honorary Award "for her luminous and unforgettable screen performances" in 1954. She did not show up at the ceremony, and the statuette