John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars by Eve Golden

John Gilbert's ex-wife Leatrice Joy compared him to mercury, but he was never swift enough to outrun his demons. In "John Gilbert: Last of the Silent Film Stars," Eve Golden gives us story of a great star whose fall was legendary.

The story of John Gilbert, in some form or another, has always been with us. Is he Don Lockwood in "Singin' in the Rain"? Is he George Valentin in "The Artist"? Rumors and conspiracy theories have never been laid to rest. Was his romance with Garbo manufactured by MGM? Did MGM sabotage his career? Eve Golden takes on the mercurial "Great Lover" of the silent screen and paints a detailed portrait of a man whose worst enemy was himself.

1923- Gilbert without his signature mustache when
he was known as Jack Gilbert (with Bebe Daniels in "St. Elmo")

Gilbert's story is well-known - or is it? He peppered his own history with many half-truths not, as some actors do to make their pasts prettier, but to make it even uglier. His mother was a stock company actress. They lived an itinerant life, moving from place to place. While his mother may not have won any awards as mother of the year, Golden claims she was not the abusive whore Gilbert claims that she was. Nevertheless, poor John Gilbert grew up with a sense that the world had robbed him of his just due, a feeling that never left him no matter how much fame was heaped upon him.

Gilbert paid his dues, starting as an extra with the Ince Studios in 1915. He served a long apprenticeship before signing with MGM and reaching stardom in 1924 with a string of hits that began with "His Hour," "He Who Gets Slapped," "The Merry Widow," and, most importantly, "The Big Parade."

Gilbert and Mae Murray in "The Merry Widow," a big hit for MGM and Gilbert

The tales of the making of "The Merry Widow" never fail to amuse. Gilbert actually comes off as Mr. Cool compared to the volatile personalities of Mae Murray and director Erich Von Stroheim, but he did have his moments, at one point stalking off the set and claiming to have quit the film.  Mae's account of running naked after him through the MGM parking lot (in only her tiny size 4 slippers) grew over they years. it seems that would have been a memorable sight, but no one but Mae seemed to remember it that way. Well, Mae was never one to let the facts stand in the way of a good story!

Gilbert and frequent co-star Renee Adoree in "The Big Parade"

These films cemented Gilbert's fame, not only as a romantic leading man, but as an actor of substance. He was MGM's biggest star. Yet, he was unhappy with his scripts, the quality of the filming and his treatment by his employer. Worse, he continuously groused to the press, raising the ire of studio boss Louis B. Mayer. He was perceived as an ingrate and Mayer was not entirely wrong. It is amazing to see how perpetually dissatisfied Gilbert was when he had achieved so much. His public moaning is hard to sympathize with and he tweaked the noses of many studio big wigs while he was riding high. This arrogance would come back to haunt him later.

Garbo and Gilbert set the screen on fire in "Flesh and the Devil"

1926 found Gilbert paired with MGM newcomer Greta Garbo in "Flesh and the Devil." He was top billed, but Garbo's star was rising. Their chemistry ignited the screen and spilled over into their private lives, as well. There has always been much speculation about the Garbo-Gilbert romance. Was it real or was it cooked up by the studio? Louise Brooks (who never met a conspiracy she didn't agree with when it came to Hollywood) thought it was manufactured to cover up Garbo's lesbianism, but it seems unlikely that the very private and shy Garbo would have gone along with such a sham. On the other hand, the stories of a planned wedding and the flowery love prose propagated by the purple press (mainly by Adela Rogers St. John), seems not to have been true, either. Instead, Golden gives us a story of 2 people who were in love for a time, one a little more than the other. Garbo and Gilbert made 3 silents together, all tremendous hits for both stars and their studio.

A rare outing for the lovebirds

Throughout the silent era, Gilbert was unstoppable. And then it all came to a crashing halt. He had signed a tremendous contact with MGM (which rankled Mayer) before the advent of sound and suddenly, he became an albatross around the studio's neck. Sound revealed his voice to be adequate, if a little thin and affected, but certainly not the high squeak of legend. However, his film persona, the great lover, became ridiculous overnight. Just as Chaplin knew his Little Tramp could never speak, the great lover needed to be silent. Dialogue like "I love you, I love you, I love you" repeated over and over again made Gilbert a figure of ridicule. One can only wonder what would have happened to Valentino had he lived.

Did MGM sabotage his career? Golden thinks not, but his past behavior made many loathe to help him. Clearly, the studio did not know what to do with John Gilbert once sound took over Hollywood. He belonged to an era of screen gods and goddesses. More down to earth stars like Cagney and Harlow and Gable were making the grade. Plus, Gilbert's salary was so large that it prohibited the studio from giving him a leading lady of real stature in any of his early sound films. After a string of fair to lousy films, he finally parted company with MGM in 1933. It was a bitter parting, as he had burned all bridges and alienated most friends.

Queen Christina: only Garbo's name above the title

But, he didn't stay away long. Garbo, who had survived the transition from silents to sound, requested him for her co-star in "Queen Christina." A young Laurence Olivier had originally been signed for the part of Christina's Spanish lover, but he proved inadequate. In a backward looking gesture to an old love and a glorious time, Garbo requested Gilbert and MGM agreed. The picture was a hit, but did little for Gilbert. He made one more forgettable film for Columbia.

During this period of decline, Gilbert systematically continued to drink himself to death. His marriages to Olivia Burwell, Leatrice Joy, Ina Claire and Virginia Bruce all ended in divorce. At the end, Marlene Dietrich attempted to help him both personally and professionally, but it was too late. At age 38 (in 1936), the bright star of John Gilbert burned and crashed when he died of a heart attack.

Eve Golden's "John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars," is available at Amazon.

Gilbert's daughter, Leatrice Gilbert Fountain, has also written a loving tribute to her father, called "Dark Star." It, too, is available at Amazon.

It is my good luck that Turner Classic Movies is running a John Gilbert marathon this Wednesday, July 10th (his birthday). My DVR is set. Please take some time to get to know this important and tragic star.

6:30 AM	BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT (1926)
	A notorious womanizer falls for the woman he has bet he can trick into marriage. Dir: King Vidor Cast:  John Gilbert , Eleanor Boardman , Roy D'Arcy . BW-90 mins, TV-PG,
8:15 AM	SHOW, THE (1927)
	In this silent film, a sideshow dancer secretly loves the show's amoral barker. Dir: Tod Browning Cast:  John Gilbert , Renée Adorée , Lionel Barrymore . BW-76 mins, TV-14,
9:45 AM	WOMAN OF AFFAIRS, A (1928)
	Prejudice keeps a free spirit from the man she loves, triggering a series of tragedies. Dir: Clarence Brown Cast:  Greta Garbo , John Gilbert , Lewis Stone . BW-91 mins, TV-PG,
11:30 AM	DESERT NIGHTS (1929)
	In this silent film, diamond robbers get caught in a violent sandstorm. Dir: William Nigh Cast:  John Gilbert , Ernest Torrence , Mary Nolan . BW-62 mins, TV-G,
12:45 PM	REDEMPTION (1930)
	A man thought dead returns to find his wife has built a new life. Dir: Fred Niblo Cast:  John Gilbert , Renée Adorée , Conrad Nagel . BW-65 mins, TV-G,
2:00 PM	WAY FOR A SAILOR (1930)
	A devoted sailor jeopardizes his love life for love of the sea. Dir: Sam Wood Cast:  John Gilbert , Wallace Beery , Jim Tully . BW-85 mins, TV-G,
3:30 PM	PHANTOM OF PARIS, THE (1931)
	A magician is charged with killing his fiancee's father. Dir: John S. Robertson Cast:  John Gilbert , Leila Hyams , Lewis Stone . BW-74 mins, TV-PG,
5:00 PM	WEST OF BROADWAY (1931)
	A millionaire doesn't remember getting married but can't forget how much he hates his new wife. Dir: Harry Beaumont Cast:  John Gilbert , El Brendel , Lois Moran . BW-67 mins, TV-G, CC,
6:30 PM	CAPTAIN HATES THE SEA, THE (1934)
	A bond thief, a private eye and a drunken reporter wreak havoc on an ocean voyage. Dir: Lewis Milestone Cast:  Victor McLaglen , Wynne Gibson , Alison Skipworth . BW-85 mins, TV-G, CC,

Gilbert heats it up with newcomer Joan Crawford in 1927's "Twelve Miles Out."