Oh My God! What did they do to this man's career. He's magnificent. He's got a great voice, a great manner, a real talent. Really interesting Pre-Code story. I've heard Clara Bow's voice and she sounded great though she seemed happier raising a family in Nevada. John Gilbert really wanted his career. He was an artist and a pro. It depresses me thinking about what might have been
Exactly. It was cruel sabotage by Louis B. Mayer. A lengthy '77 NYT article about the earthquake that talkies brought is worth looking up. (Guy Flatley wrote it.) Here's to karma for LBM... and paradise for Jack. ❤
John Gilbert was a great actor plain and simple. The things that derailed his career had nothing to do with his talent as an actor. He still is my favorite.
this clip is from DOWNSTAIRS (1932) - it sounds like Gilbert was working on his voice - and maybe the sound engineers were trying to help - but his voice comes across much better here than in other films - not so thin - like in QUEEN CHRISTINA - altho a large part of the problem in that film was the melodramatic dialog his performance was very good here - very naturalistic - tho i was more impressed by Virginia Bruce - it may have helped that his was based on his story - giving him more insight than usual into the character - the director Monta Bell may have helped - these are long dialog filled scenes - but pleasing to the eye as well as to the ear
Your right, there was nothing wrong with his voice. I read it was L.B.Meyer who ruined his career after they had a scrap following the non- wedding of Gilbert and Garbo. Apparently Gilbert "decked" Meyer who had made some smart- ass remark. L.B. had his revenge by firing him and putting the word out to all the other studio's not to hire Gilbert. By then I think the booze got the better of him. His voice was almost identical in tone to David Niven's who had a highly successful career.
the brits aren't afraid of higher pitched voices - unlike americans who stick their voices in their throats and chests (women as well as men nowadays) - they place their voice in the mask - like good singers - so listening to Gilbert reminded you of Niven (i totally agree) - and in QUEEN CHRISTINA he reminded me of Ronald Coleman - who i believe is actually a baritone Gilbert's voice in this film comes across as lower pitched and fuller - which suggests to me that he was getting some coaching
the great john gilbert,what I read about him he had a hard life as a kid ,mom passed away at an early time,dad deserted him, stepfather gave him some money as a kid and told him he is on his own,though the stepfather knew some people in the film business and they suggested him to Thomas ince and started in films during the 1913-1916 period.
@Cybele1986 So right...Gilbert was amazing in the silents he made as a leading man, and he had a reasonably normal voice for an actor of his day. It is truly tragic what happened to this great actor. Although his story is certainly melancholy and unfortunate, his downfall is one of the first instances of a tragic Hollywood story that interests and captivates so many people. The reason I became a fan of Gilbert is because of the eventful things that surrounded this man's fall from grace.
The idea of a leading man was changing. And Gilbert was so identified with a romantic image better suited for silents. But this does not mean that he didn't have a fine voice or screen presence as evidenced in this clip. He was obviously adapting to the microphone and new ways. His alcoholism which led him to punching out the weasel Mayer was what did him in. Very tragic.
If you watch the first clip of Gilbert's debut 'talkie' he is putting on a rather 'camp', upper class English accent that maybe was a shock to his teenage US fans. I believe the film was "His Glorious Night". If MGM had released this film instead the myth of his 'thin' voice would never have gained momentum.
He seems perfectly fine in this film based upon this short clip. I think his career could have continued for awhile had MGM not sabotaged it, but I think he would have gradually faded from stardom as the 1930s progressed. He seemed larger than life on the silent screen and while his voice was not high or effeminate as some alleged, the image that had made him a star on the silent screen couldn't do so once the silent era ended. I think he would have gotten crowded by the likes of Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and William Powell. Bottom line- his career could and should have continued, but he still would have been on a downward trend as the industry had changed. I'm not sure that he would have been content with supporting roles either. His personal lifestyle choices didn't help his cause and led to his untimely death.
That is BS . This man had a great vioce. I have heard worst voices and they became great stars. What I think was that because John Gilbert waS getting a high salary they wanted to let him go.
I've known for decades that talkies ended Gilbert's career due to his voice (supposedly weird I guess). But I gotta say, I'm really dumfounded, I just don't get it! His voice seems about as well or better as anyone during that era. Remember, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Bogart and a bunch of others came from that time! Did a Hollywood exec have it in for Gilbert? Wayne Arthur
Some of those silent stars couldn't make the transition to talkies, not because their voices were squeaky or off, but because the actors had such larger than life mystique that their real life voices couldn't live up to the imagination.
His voice wasn’t high-pitched at all! He had a perfectly good voice. If anything it is looks that aren’t that impressive. At least not in this movie. There’s nothing about the man in this film clip that would suggest that he was a great sex symbol.
Oh My God! What did they do to this man's career. He's magnificent. He's got a great voice, a great manner, a real talent. Really interesting Pre-Code story. I've heard Clara Bow's voice and she sounded great though she seemed happier raising a family in Nevada. John Gilbert really wanted his career. He was an artist and a pro. It depresses me thinking about what might have been
Exactly. It was cruel sabotage by Louis B. Mayer. A lengthy '77 NYT article about the earthquake that talkies brought is worth looking up. (Guy Flatley wrote it.)
Here's to karma for LBM... and paradise for Jack.
❤
Garbo spoke with a strong swedish accent and no one stopped loving her in the spoken films.
He is wonderful.
I have no words to convey how absolutely wonderful John Gilbert was.
John Gilbert was a great actor plain and simple. The things that derailed his career had nothing to do with his talent as an actor. He still is my favorite.
this clip is from DOWNSTAIRS (1932) - it sounds like Gilbert was working on his voice - and maybe the sound engineers were trying to help - but his voice comes across much better here than in other films - not so thin - like in QUEEN CHRISTINA - altho a large part of the problem in that film was the melodramatic dialog
his performance was very good here - very naturalistic - tho i was more impressed by Virginia Bruce - it may have helped that his was based on his story - giving him more insight than usual into the character -
the director Monta Bell may have helped - these are long dialog filled scenes - but pleasing to the eye as well as to the ear
Your right, there was nothing wrong with his voice. I read it was L.B.Meyer who ruined his career after they had a scrap following the non- wedding of Gilbert and Garbo.
Apparently Gilbert "decked" Meyer who had made some smart- ass remark. L.B. had his revenge by firing him and putting the word out to all the other studio's not to hire Gilbert. By then I think the booze got the better of him. His voice was almost identical in tone to David Niven's who had a highly successful career.
the brits aren't afraid of higher pitched voices - unlike americans who stick their voices in their throats and chests (women as well as men nowadays) - they place their voice in the mask - like good singers - so listening to Gilbert reminded you of Niven (i totally agree) - and in QUEEN CHRISTINA he reminded me of Ronald Coleman - who i believe is actually a baritone
Gilbert's voice in this film comes across as lower pitched and fuller - which suggests to me that he was getting some coaching
the great john gilbert,what I read about him he had a hard life as a kid ,mom passed away at an early time,dad deserted him, stepfather gave him some money as a kid and told him he is on his own,though the stepfather knew some people in the film business and they suggested him to Thomas ince and started in films during the 1913-1916 period.
Thank you so much for this. I've seen this film, forget the name of it, but it is certainly classic John Gilbert and pre-code Hollywood.
The film is "Downstairs" (1932) with Virginia Bruce, Olga Baclanova. The original story was by John Gilbert.
@Cybele1986 So right...Gilbert was amazing in the silents he made as a leading man, and he had a reasonably normal voice for an actor of his day. It is truly tragic what happened to this great actor. Although his story is certainly melancholy and unfortunate, his downfall is one of the first instances of a tragic Hollywood story that interests and captivates so many people. The reason I became a fan of Gilbert is because of the eventful things that surrounded this man's fall from grace.
The idea of a leading man was changing. And Gilbert was so identified with a romantic image better suited for silents. But this does not mean that he didn't have a fine voice or screen presence as evidenced in this clip. He was obviously adapting to the microphone and new ways. His alcoholism which led him to punching out the weasel Mayer was what did him in. Very tragic.
the actress is Virginia Bruce, who was Gilbert's last wife
This is from the film "Downstairs" (1932)
If you watch the first clip of Gilbert's debut 'talkie' he is putting on a rather 'camp', upper class English accent that maybe was a shock to his teenage US fans. I believe the film was "His Glorious Night". If MGM had released this film instead the myth of his 'thin' voice would never have gained momentum.
Great voice ! Similar to Niven`s or any other modern English actor! I wonder why did they create that myth about his thin voice?
allan penfeather Only he was an American.
Most American actors of that era spoke with a
mid atlantic accent.
Watch the film Babylon. Brad Pitt's character Jack Conrad is loosely connected to Gilbert.
His voice is no worse than Gable's.
His voice ain't squeaky at all!
His having a squeaky voice was what Louis B Mayer and his minions wanted everyone to believe. Sadly, it was pretty effective.
He seems perfectly fine in this film based upon this short clip. I think his career could have continued for awhile had MGM not sabotaged it, but I think he would have gradually faded from stardom as the 1930s progressed. He seemed larger than life on the silent screen and while his voice was not high or effeminate as some alleged, the image that had made him a star on the silent screen couldn't do so once the silent era ended. I think he would have gotten crowded by the likes of Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and William Powell. Bottom line- his career could and should have continued, but he still would have been on a downward trend as the industry had changed. I'm not sure that he would have been content with supporting roles either. His personal lifestyle choices didn't help his cause and led to his untimely death.
The drink in him shows up beautifully in this scene.
A millionaire, ever after the Market Crash; what a narcissistic pinhead.
He sounds funny.
That is BS . This man had a great vioce. I have heard worst voices and they became great stars. What I think was that because John Gilbert waS getting a high salary they wanted to let him go.
I've known for decades that talkies ended Gilbert's career due to his voice (supposedly weird I guess). But I gotta say, I'm really dumfounded, I just don't get it! His voice seems about as well or better as anyone during that era. Remember, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Bogart and a bunch of others came from that time! Did a Hollywood exec have it in for Gilbert? Wayne Arthur
Wayne Arthur Yes! Louis B. Mayer.
Some of those silent stars couldn't make the transition to talkies, not because their voices were squeaky or off, but because the actors had such larger than life mystique that their real life voices couldn't live up to the imagination.
His voice wasn’t high-pitched at all! He had a perfectly good voice. If anything it is looks that aren’t that impressive. At least not in this movie. There’s nothing about the man in this film clip that would suggest that he was a great sex symbol.
I HAVE HEARD THAT IS VOICE WAS TERRIBLE RUBBISH HIS VOICE IS OK I THINK HE WAS TREATED BADLY BY THE PUBLIC OF THE TIME AND THE STUDIOS.
He was with MGM; Louis B Mayer wanted to end John Gilbert's career.