John Gilbert (actor)

John Gilbert
Born John Cecil Pringle
July 10, 1897
Logan, Utah, U.S.
Died January 9, 1936 (aged 38)
Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death
 Heart attack
Resting place
 Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Nationality American
Other names Jack Gilbert
Education Hitchcock Military Academy
Occupation Actor, director, writer
Years active 1915–1934
Spouse(s) Olivia Burwell
 (m. 1918; div. 1921)
Leatrice Joy
 (m. 1923; div. 1925)
Ina Claire (m. 1929; div. 1931)
Virginia Bruce
 (m. 1932; div. 1934)
Children 2

John Gilbert (July 10, 1897 – January 9, 1936) was an American actor, screenwriter and director.

He rose to fame during the silent film era and became a popular leading man known as "The Great Lover."[1] At the height of his career, Gilbert rivaled Rudolph Valentino, another silent film era leading man, as a box office draw.

Gilbert's popularity began to wane when silent pictures gave way to talkies. Though Gilbert was often cited as one of the high-profile examples of an actor who was unsuccessful in making the transition to talkies, 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.[2]

Early years

Born John Cecil Pringle in Logan, Utah, to stock company actor parents, he struggled through a childhood of abuse and neglect. His family moved frequently and Gilbert attended several schools throughout the United States. After his family settled in California, he attended Hitchcock Military Academy in San Rafael, California.[3]

Gilbert first found work as an extra with the Thomas Ince Studios, and soon became a favorite of Maurice Tourneur, who also hired him to write and direct several pictures. He quickly rose through the ranks, building his reputation as an actor in such films as Heart o' the Hills (1919), with Mary Pickford.[4]

In 1921, Gilbert signed a three year contract with Fox Film Corporation, where he was cast as a romantic leading man. Some of his films for Fox include Monte Cristo, an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo; St. Elmo, an adaptation of a popular book of the period; The Wolf Man, not a horror film, but the story of a man who believes he murdered his fiancee's brother while drunk, and many others. At the time, Gilbert did not sport his famous mustache. His features were therefore somewhat uneven, and Fox plainly did not realize Gilbert's huge potential.

Career

Success and stardom

In 1924, Gilbert moved to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he became a full-fledged star with such high-profile films as His Hour directed by King Vidor and written by Elinor Glyn; He Who Gets Slapped (both 1924), co-starring Lon Chaney, and Norma Shearer, and directed by Victor Sjöström; and The Merry Widow (1925) directed by Erich von Stroheim and co-starring Mae Murray. In 1925 Gilbert was once again directed by Vidor in the war epic The Big Parade, which became the second-highest grossing silent film. His performance in this film made him a major star. The following year, Vidor reunited Gilbert with two of his co-stars from that picture, Renée Adorée and Karl Dane, for the film La Bohème which also starred Lillian Gish.

Press release photo

In 1926, Gilbert made Flesh and the Devil, his first film with Greta Garbo. They soon began a highly publicized relationship, much to the delight of their fans. Gilbert wanted to marry her, but Garbo continually balked. Legend has it that a wedding was finally planned but Garbo failed to appear at the ceremony. Recent Garbo biographers, however, have questioned the veracity of this story. Despite their rocky off-screen relationship, they continued to generate box-office revenue for the studio, and MGM paired them in two more silents Love (1927), which was a modern adaptation of Anna Karenina, and A Woman of Affairs (1928). The former film was slyly advertised by MGM as "Garbo and Gilbert in Love."

Decline

Throughout his time at MGM, Gilbert frequently clashed with studio head Louis B. Mayer over creative, social and financial matters. It was said, for example, that at the alleged double-wedding of Garbo and Gilbert and director King Vidor and actress Eleanor Boardman, Mayer made a crude remark about Garbo that led Gilbert to physically attack the mogul. This story has been disputed by some historians. Although one eyewitness—the bride, Eleanor Boardman—claimed to have seen the assault, others deny that it occurred.

In any case, Mayer apparently detested Gilbert and was disgruntled that the actor had signed a contract for six pictures at $250,000 each. It was suggested that Mayer deliberately gave Gilbert bad scripts and ineffective directors in an effort to void the contract.

With the coming of sound, Gilbert's vocal talents made a good first impression in the all-star musical comedy The Hollywood Revue of 1929, appearing in a Technicolor sequence with Norma Shearer. They played the "balcony scene" from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, first as written, and then using current slang. Most reviewers did not note any problems with Gilbert's voice at this time and some praised it.

Gilbert with Greta Garbo in A Woman of Affairs (1929)

Audiences awaited Gilbert's first romantic role on the talking screen. The vehicle was the Ruritanian romance His Glorious Night (also 1929). According to reviewers, audiences laughed nervously at Gilbert's performance. The fault was not Gilbert's voice, it was said, but the awkward scenario along with overly ardent love scenes. In one, Gilbert keeps kissing his leading lady, (Catherine Dale Owen), while saying "I love you" over and over again. The scene was parodied in the MGM musical Singin' in the Rain (1952) in which a preview of the fictional The Dueling Cavalier flops disastrously. Director King Vidor stated that Rudolph Valentino, Gilbert's main rival in the 1920s for romantic leads, probably would have suffered the same fate in the talkie era, had he lived.

Gilbert became increasingly depressed by progressively inferior films and idle stretches between productions, but he resolved to thwart Louis B. Mayer and see the six-picture contract through. 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. The Phantom of Paris (1931), originally intended for Lon Chaney (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. Downstairs (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. Shortly after making Downstairs, he married co-star Virginia Bruce; the couple divorced in 1934. Gilbert fulfilled his contract with an unimportant "B" picture and left the studio in 1933.

Greta Garbo insisted that Gilbert return to MGM to play her leading man in Queen Christina (1933), directed by Rouben Mamoulian. Garbo was top-billed, with Gilbert's name beneath the title. Again, the picture failed to revive his career. Columbia Pictures gave him what would be his final chance for a comeback in The Captain Hates the Sea (1934) in which he gave a capable performance as a frustrated playwright. But the off-screen cast of heavy drinkers encouraged his alcoholism and the film was his last.

Personal life

Gilbert was married four times. His first marriage was to Olivia Burwell, a native of Mississippi whom Gilbert had met after her family moved to California, on August 26, 1918. They separated the following year and Burwell returned to Mississippi. Burwell filed for divorce in 1921.[5]

In February 1921, Gilbert announced his engagement to actress Leatrice Joy. They married in Tijuana in November 1921.[6] 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.[7] They remarried on March 3, 1922. The marriage was tumultuous and, in June 1923, Joy filed for legal separation after she claimed that 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 first child, filed for divorce.[8] Joy later said she left Gilbert after discovering he was having an affair with actress Laurette Taylor.[9] Joy also claimed that Gilbert had conducted affairs with Barbara La Marr (with whom he had a romance before his marriage to Joy), Lila Lee and Bebe Daniels.[10] Their daughter, Leatrice Gilbert, was born on September 4, 1924.[11] Joy was granted a divorce in May 1925.[12]

In 1929, Gilbert eloped with actress Ina Claire to Las Vegas.[13] They separated in February 1931 and divorced six months later.[14][15] Gilbert's fourth and final marriage was to actress Virginia Bruce in August 1932.[16] They had a daughter, Susan Ann, the following year before divorcing in May 1934.[17]

At the time of his death, Gilbert was dating actress Marlene Dietrich.[18] He was slated to star opposite her in the film Desire.[19]

Death

By 1934, alcoholism had severely damaged Gilbert's health. He suffered a serious heart attack in December 1935 which left him in poor health.[20] Gilbert suffered a second heart attack at his Bel Air home on January 9, 1936, which was fatal.[21] A private funeral was held on January 11 at the B.E. Mortuary in Beverly Hills. Among the mourners were Gilbert's two ex-wives, Leatrice Joy and Virginia Bruce, his two daughters, Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, Myrna Loy, and Raquel Torres.[22] Gilbert was cremated and his ashes were interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale in Glendale, California.[23][24]

Gilbert left the bulk of his estate, valued at $363,494, to his fourth wife Virginia Bruce and their daughter, Susan Ann. He bequeathed $10,000 to his eldest daughter Leatrice, and other monies to friends, relatives and his servants.[25]

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, John Gilbert has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1755 Vine Street and in 1994, he was honored with his image on a United States postage stamp designed by caricaturist Al Hirschfeld.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1915 The Coward Minor role Uncredited
1915 Matrimony Extra Short film
Uncredited
1915 Aloha Oe Extra Uncredited
1916 The Corner Extra Uncredited
1916 Bullets and Brown Eyes
1916 The Last Act Extra Uncredited
1916 Hell's Hinges Rowdy townsman' Uncredited
1916 The Aryan Extra Uncredited
1916 Civilization Extra Uncredited
1916 The Apostle of Vengeance Willie Hudson
1916 The Phantom Bertie Bereton
1916 Eye of the Night Uncredited
1916 Shell 43 English Spy
1916 The Sin Ye Do Jimmy
1917 The Weaker Sex
1917 The Bride of Hate Dr. Duprez's Son
1917 Princess of the Dark 'Crip' Halloran
1917 The Dark Road Cedric Constable
1917 Happiness Richard Forrester Credited as Jack Gilbert
1917 The Millionaire Vagrant James Cricket
1917 The Hater of Men Billy Williams
1917 The Mother Instinct Jean Coutierre
1917 Golden Rule Kate The Heller
1917 The Devil Dodger Roger Ingraham
1917 Up or Down? Allan Corey
1918 Nancy Comes Home Phil Ballou Credited as Jack Gilbert
1918 Shackled James Ashley Credited as Jack Gilbert
1918 More Trouble Harvey Deering Credited as Jack Gilbert
1918 One Dollar Bid Credited as Jack Gilbert
1918 Wedlock Granger Hollister Credited as Jack Gilbert
1918 Doing Their Bit Credited as Jack Gilbert
1918 The Mask Billy Taylor Credited as Jack Gilbert
1918 Three X Gordon Archie Credited as Jack Gilbert
1918 The Dawn of Understanding Ira Beasly Credited as Jack Gilbert
1919 The White Heather Dick Beach Credited as Jack Gilbert
1919 The Busher Jim Blair Credited as Jack Gilbert
1919 The Man Beneath James Bassett Credited as Jack Gilbert
1919 A Little Brother of the Rich Carl Wilmerding
1919 The Red Viper Dick Grant Credited as Jack Gilbert
1919 For a Woman's Honor Dick Rutherford
1919 Widow by Proxy Jack Pennington Credited as Jack Gilbert
1919 Heart o' the Hills Gray Pendleton Credited as Jack Gilbert
1919 Should a Woman Tell? The Villain Credited as Jack Gilbert
1920 The White Circle Frank Cassilis Credited as Jack Gilbert
Writer
1920 The Great Redeemer Undetermined role Uncredited
Adaptation
1920 Deep Waters Bill Lacey Credited as Jack Gilbert
Writer
1921 The Servant in the House Percival Credited as Jack Gilbert
1921 The Bait
–
 Lost film
Writer
1921 Love's Penalty
–
 Writer, director, editor
1921 Shame William Fielding/David Field
1921 Ladies Must Live The Gardener Credited as Jack Gilbert
1922 Gleam O'Dawn Gleam O'Dawn
1922 Arabian Love Norman Stone
1922 The Yellow Stain Donald Keith
1922 Honor First Jacques Dubois/Honoré Duboois
1922 Monte Cristo Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo
1922 Calvert's Valley Page Emlyn Credited as Jack Gilbert
1922 The Love Gambler Dick Manners
1922 A California Romance Don Patricio Fernando
1923 While Paris Sleeps Dennis O'Keefe
1923 Truxton King Truxton King
1923 Madness of Youth Jaca Javalie
1923 St. Elmo St. Elmo Thornton Lost film
1923 The Exiles Henry Holcombe
1923 Cameo Kirby Cameo Kirby
1924 Just Off Broadway Stephen Moore
1924 The Wolf Man Gerald Stanley Lost film
1924 A Man's Mate Paul
1924 The Lone Chance Jack Saunders Lost film
1924 Romance Ranch Carlos Brent
1924 His Hour Gritzko
1924 Married Flirts Guest at party Cameo appearance
Lost film
1924 He Who Gets Slapped Bezano
1924 The Snob Eugene Curry Lost film
1924 The Wife of the Centaur Jeffrey Dwyer Lost film
1925 The Merry Widow Prince Danilo Petrovich
1925 The Big Parade James Apperson
1925 Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Crowd extra in chariot race Uncredited
1926 La Bohème Rodolphe
1926 Bardelys the Magnificent Bardelys
1926 Flesh and the Devil Leo von Harden
1927 The Show Cock Robin
1927 Twelve Miles Out Jerry Fay
1927 Man, Woman and Sin Albert Whitcomb
1927 Love Captain Count Alexei Vronsky Director (Uncredited)
1928 The Cossacks Lukashka
1928 Four Walls Benny Horowitz Lost film
1928 Show People Himself Cameo appearance
Uncredited
1928 The Masks of the Devil Baron Reiner
1928 A Woman of Affairs Neville 'Nevs' Holderness
1929 Desert Nights Hugh Rand Last silent film
1929 His Glorious Night Captain Kovacs Sound film debut
1929 The Hollywood Revue of 1929 Himself
1930 Redemption Fedya
1930 Way for a Sailor Jack
1931 Gentleman's Fate Giacomo Tomasulo/Jack Thomas
1931 The Phantom of Paris Chéri-Bibi
1931 West of Broadway Jerry Seevers
1932 Downstairs Karl Schneider Story
1933 Fast Workers Gunner Smith
1933 Queen Christina Antonio
1934 The Captain Hates the Sea Steve Bramley

In popular culture

Books

In 1985, St. Martin's Press released Gilbert's biography Dark Star: The Untold Story of the Metoric Rise and Fall of the Legendary John Gilbert, written by his older daughter, Leatrice Gilbert Fountain.[26]

In February 2013, University Press of Kentucky published the biography John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars, by author Eve Golden.

Film

John Gilbert is the subject of a min-documentary film called Rediscovering John Gilbert (2010) featuring an on-camera interview with John Gilbert's daughter and biographer, Leatrice Gilbert Fountain. The short film, directed and produced by film historian Jeffrey Vance, has aired on the Turner Classic Movies cable channel and is also available on DVD from home video distributor Flicker Alley.[27][28]

Fictional portrayals

Gilbert has been portrayed in several films. In 1980, Barry Bostwick appeared as the actor in the television film The Silent Lovers. Gilbert has also been portrayed by his grandson John Fountain (in 1988's Sunset), Christopher Renstrom (in 1989's La Divina), and Adnan Taletovich (in 2012's Return to Babylon).

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Obituary Variety, January 15, 1936, page 62.
  2. ↑ Brownlow, Kevin The Parade's Gone By, New York: Crown Publishers, 1968
  3. ↑ "John Gilbert, Film Actor, Dies of Heart Attack". Reading Eagle. January 9, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ Golden, Eve (2013). John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars. University Press of Kentucky. p. 45. ISBN 0-8131-4162-1.
  5. ↑ Golden, 2013. pp.38, 43, 60
  6. ↑ Golden, 2013. pp.54, 56
  7. ↑ Golden, 2013. p.60
  8. ↑ "Leatrice Joy Asks Divorce". The Telegraph-Herald. August 13, 1924. p. 22. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  9. ↑ Golden, 2013. pp. 85–86
  10. ↑ Golden, 2013. p.57
  11. ↑ Golden, 2013. p.86
  12. ↑ "FILM STAR GIVEN DIVORCE". The Los Angeles Times. May 29, 1925. p. A8.
  13. ↑ Monahan, Kaspar (July 12, 1933). "Hollywood's Shattered Romances". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 19. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  14. ↑ "John Gilber, Ina Claire Agree to Separate". Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express. February 14, 1931. p. 7. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Films Actress Given Divorce From Gilbert". St. Petersburg Times. August 5, 1931. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  16. ↑ "John Gilbert Is Wed and Filming Resumed". San Jose News. August 11, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Fourth Divorce for John Gilbert of Films". The Southeast Missourian. May 26, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Olivia Burwell". The Palm Beach Post. January 10, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Desire (1936)". nytimes.com. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  20. ↑ "John Gilbert, Screen Lover, Dies Suddenly in Sleep". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 10, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  21. ↑ "John Gilbert Dead". The Vancouver Sun. January 9, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Pay Final Honor To Actor". San Jose News. January 11, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Marlene Is Witness at Gilbert Cremation". The Milwaukee Journal. February 16, 1936. p. 8. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  24. ↑ Boyd, Hal (June 27, 1947). "Forest Lawn Cemetery Is One Of Glendale's Big Industries; Great of Film World Lie Here". San Jose News. p. 7. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Gilbert's Estate Set at $363,494". The Milwaukee Journal. January 28, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  26. ↑ "John Gilbert's Story Written By Daughter". Waycross Journal-Herald. May 24, 1985. pp. P–21. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  27. ↑ http://www.flickeralley.com/catalog/item/bardleys-the-magnificent-and-monte-cristo/hardgood
  28. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1736642/trivia
Bibliography

External links

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