John Gilbert Silent Screen Star

[kamilla1960]

He was by all accounts a thoughtful and serious artist.

[tsblonde510]

today, starting at 7am est, TCM will begin a tribute for Mr. Gilbert that will last until 6am tomorrow. He is being honored during their yearly 'Summer Under The Stars'. There are a couple of his movies, being shown, i've yet had the pleasure to see. To see him in true acting form and voice, see 'Downstairs' at 6:30pm est. He wrote the story, as well. He is wonderful as the 'cad'.

[margot9230]

He was the Errol Flynn of his day and the was victimized by the media and by Mayer who had his ass kiicked by him.

[ashbyjay]

He reminds me very much of Errol Flynn to look at, and it seems as though they may have had something in common in that their careers were destroyed by the Hollywood film machine. I don't think that there was anything wrong with his voice, but am so glad that he gave Louis B. Mayer a punch up the bracket.

[rbcastillo]

Did Gilbert own the Gilbert hotel in Hollywood?

[LKKruse]

@rbcastillo

No, but a lot of places in Hollywood were named after famous people to lure toursts in. So, it could be very well possible that it was named for him.

[helowrance]

Thanks for a wonderful picture montage of the great Gilbert! I own 'The Captain Hates the Sea" and his voice wasn't bad...but unfortunately at that point in his career, the tremors were quite obvious, in his weaving back and forth. The great J. Barrymore could somewhat hide this because of his grand gestures and caricature-style acting, but someone like Gilbert was much too sensitive for that. A great actor who unfortunately didn't succeed much after the 20s...but 'they had faces then'!

[mfan0825]

Gilbert is one of the best. Handsome, kind hearted, gentle and talented.

[BoweryBaby88]

he was sooo handsome! I once lived at his hotel In Hollywood with my son and German Shepard. The Gilbert Hotel between Sunset blvd & Hollywood Blvd.

[diomanUK]

His voice was not as bad as was made out. The real enemy of Gilbert was NOT the advent of talkies, but studio head Louis B. Mayer. Garbo & Gilbert had a much publisized off-screen romance and when Greta Garbo failed to appear at their wedding, Mayer told Gilbert, 'F**K her, but don't marry her'. to which Gilbert responded by punching Mayer in the face and knocking him cold. From that day foward, Louis B Mayer did everything in his power to destroy John Gilbert.

[ATsarIsBorn]

"I took the croupier to a picture show

I thought the croupier was rather slow.

I said, I like John Gilbert a lot -- don't you?

I said, I like John Gilbert a lot -- don't you?

When the film was done and romance was through --

I realized that he liked John Gilbert too."

-- Cole Porter, 1929

[hahahoho2006]

ive just been reading about this guy, im curious to hear what he sounded it.

[1928javier]

Jack's voice was fine in talkies, best examples are "Downstairs" and "The Captain Hates The Sea" but was not given proper credit in "Queen Christina". Of course everyone knows his silent films are the best!