John Gilbert (actor)

1410:"The career of John Gilbert indicates that the star, and the person playing the star, were regarded by producers as separate entities, subject to totally different attitudes. Gilbert, as an ordinary human being, had no legal right to the stardom that was the sole property of the studio. When Gilbert, as an employee, tried to seize control of the future of Gilbert the star, the studios decided to save their investment from falling into the hands of rivals, they had to wreck their property. Other properties – books, films, sets – could be destroyed with impunity. But the destruction of a star carried with it the destruction of a person…it seems somewhat abhorrent that it took such tragedies as that of John Gilbert to bring us our entertainment." 346: 904:, over the objections of the Austrian-American director. Von Stroheim expressed his displeasure bluntly to his leading man: "Gilbert, I am forced to use you in my picture. I do not want you, but the decision was not in my hands. I assure you I will do everything in my power to make you comfortable." Gilbert, mortified, soon stalked off the set in a rage, tearing off his costume. Von Stroheim followed him to his dressing room and apologized. The two agreed to share a drink. Then Gilbert apologized and they had another drink. The tempest subsided and was resolved amicably. According to Gilbert, the contretemps served to "cement a relationship which for my part will never end." 4579: 658: 33: 1059: 4068:

Mayer/Gilbert altercation, quoting Boardman: "Gilbert was getting very nervous... violent" when Garbo failed to appear, she reports that Mayer advised Gilbert to "'sleep with , don’t marry her'...Gilbert socked him, and knocked him down and hit his head on the tile. And that was really the beginning of the end of Gilbert's career." Lautrice Gilbert Fountain, Gilbert's daughter, is quoted by Brownlow: "After Jack had knocked down and drawn blood, Mayer said 'I’ll destroy you'."

986: 1266:(1929). The bleak atmosphere and maudlin dialogue presaged the disaster looming in the star's personal life and career. Gilbert's confident screen presence had vanished, while his use of the exaggerated stage diction that elicited laughs from the audience persisted. In one scene Gilbert declares ominously "I'm going to kill myself to let the whole world know what it has lost." 440:. Viewed by studio executives as a promising but still "juvenile" actor at this stage of his career, Gilbert's contract salary was $ 40 a week ($ 1,120 today), fairly ample pay for most American workers in the early 1900s. Gilbert continued to get more substantial parts at Kay-Bee, which billed him as "Jack Gilbert" in 1403:) plying Gilbert with cocktails and encouraging his alcoholism. "It's too goddam bad," muttered Cohn, "but if a man wants to go to hell I can't stop him." Gilbert completed the film, giving a capable performance as "a dissipated, bitter cynical" playwright, but it failed to revive his career. It was his last film. 1435:

legal separation in June 1923 when she claimed Gilbert slapped her face after a night of heavy drinking. They reconciled several months later. In August 1924, Joy, who was pregnant with the couple's daughter, filed for divorce. Joy later said she left Gilbert after discovering he was having an affair with actress

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guided Gilbert through a screen test, which impressed both Milestone and Cohn. Cohn told Gilbert, "If you keep your nose clean on this picture, I'll see that you get work. I'll go to bat for you with every producer in town." Gilbert's conduct was exemplary for two weeks, until self-doubts came to the

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in November 1921. As Gilbert had failed to secure a divorce from his first wife and the legality of Gilbert and Joy's Mexican marriage was questionable, the couple separated and had the marriage annulled to avoid a scandal. They remarried March 3, 1922. The marriage was tumultuous, and Joy filed for

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Brownlow, 1979. p. 194: Gilbert refused to walk out on his MGM contract despite "harassment" and was "no longer on speaking terms with Louis B, Mayer." Gilbert was "subjected to one poor picture after another" and suffered "attempts at humiliation, aimed at forcing him to quit" so as to breach his

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described Gilbert as having "a light speaking voice", a minor defect that both MGM and the star "magnified into an obsession." Despite any conflicting opinions or myths surrounding the actor's voice, Mayer's lingering resentment and hostility toward Gilbert remained apparent, especially after MGM's

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were no different than in his subsequent talkies. From that analysis, Brownlow also reported that Gilbert's voice, overall, was "quite low". With regard to the alleged manipulation of Gilbert's footage by Mayer or by anyone else, television technicians in the 1960s determined that the actor's voice

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over creative, social and financial matters. A confrontation between the two men, which became physical, occurred at the planned double-wedding of Garbo and Gilbert and director King Vidor and actress Eleanor Boardman. Mayer reportedly made a crude remark to Gilbert about Garbo, and Gilbert reacted

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With the coming of sound, Gilbert's vocal talents made a good first impression, although the studio had failed to conduct a voice test. The conventional wisdom of the day dictated that actors in the new talkies should emulate "correct stage diction". Gilbert's strict adherence to that method which

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Brownlow 1979, p. 192-193: "Gilbert gave a performance that ranks as one of the finest of the entire silent period" And: "Gilbert was playing a part he never played before", Vidor said. "He never had dirty fingernails before, and he’d never done a part without makeup before. Then he found that he

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Director King Vidor speculated that, had he lived, the late Rudolph Valentino, Gilbert's main rival for romantic leads in the silent era, probably would have suffered the same fate in the talkie era. It was Gilbert's inept phrasing, his "dreadful enunciation" and the "inane" script as the genuine

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The public adulation that Gilbert experienced with his growing celebrity astounded him: "Everywhere I hear whispers and gasps in acknowledgment of my presence...he whole thing became too fantastic for me to comprehend. Acting, the very thing I had been fighting and ridiculing for seven years, had

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actor parents, John George Pringle (1865–1929) and Ida Adair Apperly Gilbert (1877–1913), he struggled through a childhood of abuse and neglect, with his family moving frequently and young "Jack" having to attend assorted schools throughout the United States. When his family finally settled in

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Brownlow, 1979. p. 193: Brownlow confirms that Vidor and Gilbert "agreed to make it a double wedding" but Garbo failed to show. Brownlow provides some testimony from Boardman. See p. 200, wedding photo (without Garbo) is reproduced.) Brownlow reports that Eleanor Boardman was present at the

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Gilbert announced his retirement from acting and was working at Fox as an "honorary" director when, in August 1933, he announced he had signed a seven-year contract with MGM at $ 75–100,000 a picture. The reason was Greta Garbo insisted that Gilbert return to MGM to play her leading man in

313:. Though Gilbert was often cited as one of the high-profile examples of an actor who was unsuccessful in making the transition to sound films, his decline as a star had far more to do with studio politics and money than with the sound of his screen voice, which was rich and distinctive. 1283:(1931). Gilbert became increasingly depressed by progressively inferior films and idle stretches between productions. Despite efforts by studio executives at MGM to cancel his contract, Gilbert resolved to thwart Louis B. Mayer and see the six-picture ordeal through to the end. 4171:

Brownlow 1979, p. 202: Gilbert's "whole demeanor had changed…. evaporated." Gilbert's use of "proper stage diction" reflects the early industry "obsession" with stage elocution. And "with hindsight, one realizes that was not acting at all" but predicting his own tragic

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Gilbert left the bulk of his estate, valued at $ 363,494 (equivalent to $ 7.98 million in 2023), to his last ex-wife Virginia Bruce and their daughter, Susan Ann. He left $ 10,000 to his elder daughter Leatrice, and other amounts to friends, relatives and his servants.

1189:(1929), directed by Lionel Barrymore. According to reviewers, audiences laughed nervously at Gilbert's performance. The offense was not Gilbert's voice, but the awkward scenario along with the overly ardent love scenes. In one, Gilbert keeps kissing his leading lady, ( 3739:

was marred by his "dreadful enunciation" of his lines, a matter of that could have been corrected with elocution coaching and a better script, and not his natural voice which "was quite low" and p. 202: "the quality of ...compared well with that of co-star

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Brownlow, 1979 p. 193: Gilbert's vocal delivery elicited "no complaints from the public...fortunately the scene was delivered in slang and the burlesque wiped out the bad impression" One review noted that Gilbert's speech was "too mincing and affected for

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Brownlow 1979, p. 193: Gilbert's contract "a staggering fee" and "Schenck had his own private feud with Mayer" and the contract provided Gilbert "protection…from the vindictiveness of Mayer… was a severe blow to Mayer's prestige...an act that he could not

1300:(1932) was based on Gilbert's original story, with the actor playing against type as a scheming, blackmailing chauffeur. The films were well received by critics and fans but failed to revive his career. In between, he appeared in 1055:, Gilbert, though uncredited, was responsible for directing the love scenes involving Garbo. He was perhaps the only person in the industry whose "artistic judgment" she fully respected. As such, MGM approved of this arrangement. 1246:

star signed a new contract for six pictures at $ 250,000 each. Those ill feelings fueled additional speculation that Mayer deliberately assigned Gilbert bad scripts and ineffective directors in an effort to void the contract.

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in France during World War I was the high point of his acting career. He fully immersed himself in the role of Jim Apperson, a Southern gentleman who, with two working class comrades, experiences the horrors of

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remarked approvingly that he "had a love affair going for me that you couldn't beat, any way you tried." Garbo and Gilbert soon began a highly publicized romance, much to the delight of their fans and to MGM.

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Baxter 1970 p. 62: The story that Olivier was dropped "on Garbo's orders" is unlikely. Director Mamoulian, is reported have thought the "inexperienced" actor was "unsuitable" for the role, based on screen

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Brownlow 1979, p. 201: Garbo "looked for approval from Gilbert after every scene. If he failed to nod, Garbo refused to continue, so MGM found it simpler to let Gilbert direct...over half the production."

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Gilbert's fortunes were temporarily restored when MGM's production chief Irving Thalberg gave him two projects that were character studies, giving Gilbert an excellent showcase for his versatility.

3809:"John Gilbert Is Dead at 36; Forgotten by Four Ex-Wives: Only Firemen, Nurse and Doctor at Deathbed; Screen Idol Declared Love for Garbo Most Real Thing in His Life. John Gilbert Dead at 38". 4296:

Brownlow 1979, p. 194: Brownlow offers a striking metaphor of the studio system, where Louis B. Mayer is a scrap-yard owner, capable of "wrecking cars with the drivers still at the wheel."

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whom Gilbert had met after her family moved to California. They separated the following year and Burwell returned to Mississippi for a while. She filed for divorce in Los Angeles in 1921.

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Exhausted and demoralized by his humiliations at MGM and his declining success at the box office, Gilbert began to drink heavily, contributing to his declining physical and mental health.

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produced an affected delivery that made audiences giggle, rather than any particularity in Gilbert's natural speech. Indeed, the "quality of his voice compared well with that of co-star

3744:, regarded as having one of the best voices for sound." And see p. 194: Gilbert refused to walk out on his MGM contract despite "harassment" and was "no longer on speaking terms with 4038:

Brownlow, 1979, p, 193: "no provision for a voice test in his contract" and p. 202: "The obsession in those early days of sound was with 'pear-shaped tones' admired in stage acting."

4197:: "I think Gilbert was his own most destructive enemy...He took to drinking very heavily and sort of willed himself to die." And "the attempts at humiliation…" by MGM executives." 4856: 4715: 4333: 1169:, first as written, then followed with a slang rendition of the scene. The comic effect served to "dispell the bad impression" produced by Gilbert's original "mincing" delivery. 1294:(who died from cancer in 1930), cast Gilbert as a debonair magician and showman who is falsely accused of murder and uses his mastery of disguise to unmask the real killer. 4615: 4529: 790:, not a horror film, but the story of a man who believes he murdered his fiancée's brother while drunk. Gilbert also performed in his last films for Fox in 1924, including 4451: 1378:. Cohn was always on the alert for current stars who had been dropped by other studios, so that he could sign them for their name value. He also wanted to show, as author 3758: 3748:." Gilbert was "subjected to one poor picture after another" and suffered "attempts at humiliation, aimed at forcing him to quit" so as to breach his lucrative contract. 4830: 4656: 5105: 4477: 4503: 3699:"Saved from ignominy: His daughter's stubborn campaign put unfairly maligned actor John Gilbert back in the pantheon of silent film stars – where he's always belonged" 4803: 4762: 4091:

magazine review of the film, which pans Gilbert's performance. "When audiences saw and heard Gilbert in a serious love scene, they killed his career with laughter".

5318: 977:. Gilbert first encountered Garbo on the set during filming of the railway station scene, and the chemistry between the two was evidently instantaneous. Director 1514:. Bruce retired briefly from acting following the birth of their daughter Susan Ann; however, she resumed her career after her divorce from Gilbert in May 1934. 1135:

Gilbert signed an immensely lucrative multi-picture contract with MGM in 1928 that totaled $ 1,500,000. The terms of the agreement positioned MGM executives

923:(1925), which became the second-highest grossing silent film and the most profitable film of the silent era. Gilbert's "inspired performance" as an American 5248: 3948:

Brownlow, 1979, p. 192: Brownlow quoting from an interview or memoir by Gilbert, no date. Also p. 196: The film brought Gilbert "international renown."

677:, which subsequently cast him in romantic leading roles and promoted him now as "John Gilbert". The actor's first starring part for the studio was in 3733:

Brownlow, 1979. p. 192: Gilbert "experienced a humiliating plunge from popularity." and p. 193: Brownlow reports that Gilbert's sound recordings for

1229:, by manipulating the sound track, to give it a higher, less masculine pitch. Later, after analyzing the film's sound track, British film historian, 1451:. Gilbert and Joy had a daughter, Leatrice Gilbert (later Fountain; September 4, 1924 – January 20, 2015). Joy was granted a divorce in May 1925. 1382:

noted, that he could succeed with an MGM castoff: "Never was Cohn more satisfied than when he could score some such victory over M-G-M." Director

3979:"DEATH CALLS TO GILBERT, SCREEN STAR: Actor Dies After Heart Attack Great Lover of Films, Figure in Real Life Romances, Rose From Extra Ranks". 5283: 1238:

was consistent with those of other performers on the same print, casting doubt that any targeted "sabotaging" of Gilbert's voice had occurred.

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The persistent myth that John Gilbert had a "squeaky voice" that doomed his career in sound films, first emerged from his 1929 performance in

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reported that their "quick" wedding was held in Gilbert's dressing room on the MGM lot while Bruce was working on another studio production,

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Brownlow 1979 p. 193: "One theory suggests that was sabotaged by a bad recording." Brownlow, however, makes no reference to "gelding"'.

1462:. They separated in February 1931 and divorced six months later. Gilbert's fourth and final marriage was on August 10, 1932, to actress 5288: 4411: 5343: 5313: 4386: 4683: 5323: 4162:

Laurier, 2012: Gilbert "famously failed to make the transition to talking films, in large part as the result of studio connivance."

3698: 1348:, though a critical success, did not revive Gilbert's poor self-image or his career. Garbo was reported to have dropped the young 643:(1921), which starred and was produced by Hope Hampton. For Hampton, Gilbert wrote and directed as well, but he did not appear in 5348: 932:. Gilbert declared: "No love has ever enthralled me as did the making of this picture...All that has followed is balderdash." 3866: 861:

The next year, Gilbert would star in two of MGM's most critically acclaimed and popular film productions of the silent era:

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in Portland, Oregon, in 1914. He subsequently found work the following year as a stage manager in another stock company in

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surface, resulting in drunken episodes and ulcer flare-ups. Gilbert's resolve was further weakened by other cast members (

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After losing his stage job in 1915, Gilbert decided to try screen acting, and quickly gained work as a film extra through

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Brownlow 1979, p. 194: "An outstandingly brave decision" on Garbo's part, and "a generosity rare in the film industry."

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and became a popular leading man known as "The Great Lover". His breakthrough came in 1925 with his starring roles in

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Baxter 1976, p. 28-29: "Despite efforts of many close friends...Gilbert destroyed himself with drink and melancholy."

1048:(1927) to capitalize on the real life love affair of the stars and advertised by MGM as "Garbo and Gilbert in Love." 4222:"Baxter 1970, p. 61-62: Gilbert "not especially good as the male lead, but works competently in a difficult part."". 1525:

from 1926 to 1927. When he died, he had recently been slated to play a prominent supporting role in Dietrich's film

5353: 4641:"COURT GIVES DIVORCE TO MRS. JOHN GILBERT: Virginia Bruce, Former Stage Beauty, Is Fourth Wife to Quit the Actor". 345: 3922:

Phillips, 2009: " was also the most profitable silent-era feature and remained MGM's most successful film until

1558:. Among the mourners were Gilbert's two ex-wives, Leatrice Joy and Virginia Bruce, his two daughters, and stars 286:; July 10, 1897 – January 9, 1936) was an American actor, screenwriter and director. He rose to fame during the 5333: 3882:

Schallert, Edwin (June 1, 1921). "RADIOS.: ANOTHER STAR GLEAMS. GILBERT SAID TO HAVE WON THAT HONOR WITH FOX".

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Brownlow, 1979. p. 192: Gilbert "inherited the title of The Great Lover...after the death of Valentino." And: "

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Biographer Kevin Brownlow's eulogy to John Gilbert considers the destruction of both the man and his career:

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by some historians, Vidor's bride, Eleanor Boardman, insisted that she personally witnessed the altercation.

792: 756: 4922: 4742: 334:. After he left school, Gilbert worked as a rubber goods salesman in San Francisco, then performed with the 3546: 2667: 1547:

in December 1935, which left him in even worse condition. A second heart attack on January 9, 1936, at his

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Gilbert was married four times. His first marriage, on August 26, 1918, was to Olivia Burwell, a native of

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Brownlow 1979. p. 192: Brownlow is apparently quoting Gilbert from an interview or memoir of the incident.

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Brownlow, 1979 p. 194: By the end of his contract with MGM "Gilbert was drinking very heavily." Quoting

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Audiences awaited further romantic roles from Gilbert on the talking screen. The next vehicle was the

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Koszarski, 1983, p. 150: Director Stroheim's Merry Widow his "greatest critical and popular success."

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brought me success, riches and renown. I was a great motion picture artist. Well, I'll be damned!"

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by knocking Mayer to the floor with his fist. While that story has been disputed or dismissed as

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During his initial years in films, Gilbert also performed in releases by Kay-Bee Company such as

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Brownlow, 1979, p. 193: "The idea that Gilbert had a squeaky voice has persisted for years."

3784: 2464: 1995: 1544: 1379: 596: 5207: 1193:), while saying "I love you" over and over again. The scene was parodied in the MGM musical 5278: 5273: 3529: 3264: 3119: 2831: 2596: 2148: 1953: 1582: 1548: 1499: 1242: 1101: 1001: 848: 721: 674: 639: 619:

signed him to a contract to both write and act in films. Gilbert performed in and co-wrote

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Rediscovering Hallelujah (1929), director King Vidor's sensitive film with all-black cast

5186: 5136:. International Film Guide Series. Paperback Library, New York. LOC Card Number 68–24003. 5089: 5075: 5061: 5047: 5033: 5005: 4991: 4977: 4963: 4949: 4935: 3678: 3512: 3247: 3195: 2787: 2047: 1799: 1205: 1190: 969: 827: 744: 500: 390: 339: 335: 4831:"Forest Lawn Cemetery Is One Of Glendale's Big Industries; Great of Film World Lie Here" 4788:"SERVICE FOR JOHN GILBERT: Two Former Wives Attend Funeral of Actor in Beverly Hills". 4747: 4688: 3789: 3735: 3662:(2012). Gilbert was the inspiration behind the character of George Valentin, played by 3644: 3443: 3408: 3298: 2852: 2523: 1527: 1185: 1109: 1064: 1021: 935:

The following year, Vidor reunited Gilbert with two of his co-stars from that picture,

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recalled that Olivier's screen tests had already eliminated him from consideration.

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first shown in 1980. He has also been portrayed by his grandson, John Fountain, in

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Book review/essay with considerable biographical material concerning John Gilbert

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Koszarski, 1983: p. 150: "cemented John Gilbert's reputation as a romantic hero."

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Koszarski, 1983 p. 150: "cemented John Gilbert's reputation as a romantic hero."

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Brownlow 1979, p. 192: "At once fortunes improved" upon working with Thalberg.

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For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Gilbert has a star on the

1507: 1477: 1463: 1396: 1309: 1230: 1144: 978: 929: 877: 726: 590: 375: 342:, Washington, but he soon lost that job when the company went out of business. 298: 242: 32: 3968:"Brownlow, 1979, p 198-199: See photo from set, with Garbo/Gilbert embracing". 1058: 5267: 5106:"Margot Robbie in Talks to Replace Emma Stone in Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon'" 3663: 3425: 3041: 2397: 1605: 1571: 1555: 1276: 1162: 1115: 1091: 1038: 1026: 1016: 810: 787: 601: 578: 474:, but the film was not a big success and he went back to supporting roles in 371: 5143:. Simon & Schuster, Inc. Monarch Film Studies. LOC Card Number 75–23544. 657: 5258: 5254: 3793:. Eugene, Oregon. September 10, 1923. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com. 3741: 3581: 2709: 2171: 2106: 1496: 1448: 1427: 1129: 1006: 950: 685: 471: 184: 5228: 4897: 3371: 1597: 1563: 1522: 1473: 1420: 1315:

Gilbert fulfilled his contract with MGM with a perfunctory "B" picture –

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Gilbert's career declined precipitously when silent pictures gave way to

287: 79: 60: 1225:. It was even rumored that Louis B. Mayer ordered Gilbert's voice to be 540:(1918) for Anderson, but the company went bankrupt. He also was cast in 5219: 5150: 5090: