Arthur Schlesinger Jr.

Anne Bancroft shines as eccentric divorcée Estelle Rolfe in this whimsical comedy from director Sidney Lumet. When she learns she has inoperable cancer, Estelle has just one wish -- to meet the famously reclusive Greta Garbo -- and it's up to her son (Ron Silver) to fulfill it. Along the way, they encounter a number of colorful characters, from an aging Shakespearean actress (Hermione Gingold) to a gay Garbo buff (Harvey Fierstein).

A dying mother's (Anne Bancroft) last wish to meet Greta Garbo costs her son (Ron Silver) his job, his marriage and his dignity. Carrie Fisher also stars in this slice-of-life film from director Sidney Lumet.

A dying mother's (Anne Bancroft) last wish to meet Greta Garbo costs her son (Ron Silver) his job, his marriage and his dignity. Carrie Fisher also stars in this slice-of-life film from director Sidney Lumet.

Anne Bancroft stars as Estelle Rolfe, an unconventional divorcee who resides in New York, in close proximity to her grown son Gilbert (Ron Silver) and his wife Lisa (Carrie Fisher). Though his wife yearns to move back to her home state of California, Gilbert cannot quite cut the silver cord that binds him to his mother. Upon learning that Estelle is dying, her dutiful son offers to honor her last request to meet the reclusive actress Greta Garbo. Also stars Harvey Fierstein, and Hermione Gingold.