John Gilbert

John Gilbert was born into a family involved in show business; his father was a comic with the Pringle Stock Company. By 1915, John was working as an extra with Thomas H. Ince's company and had advanced to a lead role by 1917. During this period, he also served as an assistant director, actor, and screenwriter, and he experimented with directing. By 1919, he was gaining attention in films and securing better roles. In 1921, he signed a three-year contract with Fox Films. His popularity continued to rise, and he transitioned from playing villains to becoming a leading man. In 1924, he signed with MGM, which cast him in *His Hour* (1924). In 1925, he appeared in the highly successful *The Big Parade* (1925), and by that time, he was as popular as Rudolph Valentino. Lillian Gish, who had a new contract with MGM, chose Gilbert to co-star with her in *La Bohème* (1926). With the death of Valentino, his only major competitor, John reached the peak of his fame. He then starred with Greta Garbo in *Love* (1927), *Flesh and the Devil* (1926), and *A Woman of Affairs* (1928). The chemistry between the two on screen was remarkable and led to a passionate off-screen affair. The studio's publicity department heavily promoted the romance, but when it came time to marry, John was left at the altar. His performances afterward lacked the brilliance he had previously shown, and he began to drink heavily. At the same time, the film industry was shifting toward sound, and although his voice was not as poor as some had feared, it did not suit the image he had cultivated on screen. His roles also changed, as seen in films like *Redemption* (1930) and *Way for a Sailor* (1930). He was no longer a character upon whom bad things happened, but rather the one causing them. MGM did little to assist John in adapting to the new sound medium, as studio chief Louis B. Mayer and Gilbert had a bitter and hostile confrontation over Garbo. John remained under contract to MGM for a substantial salary, but the money held little value for him. His contract expired in 1933 after he appeared in *Fast Workers* (1933) as a riveter. Garbo attempted to revive some of his image when she insisted he co-star with her in *Queen Christina* (1933), but it was too late. He appeared in only one more film before dying of a heart attack in January 1936.