Actor John Gilbert was one of the most revered silent film stars of his day. Often a daring swashbuckler on screen, his off-screen life was equally as exciting during his heyday. He romanced the likes of Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich in addition to sparring with Louis B. Mayer, among a variety of other conquests and conflicts.
Sadly, the advent of sound would quickly and drastically reshape his career for the worse, plunging Gilbert into a swift decline. Unfortunately, many myths about Gilbert and his personal and professional tragedies persisted long after his untimely death.
In John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars, author Eve Golden separates fact from fiction while telling the story of Gilbert’s life and career. Leaving no stone unturned, Golden debunks rumors about Gilbert, including the notorious myth about him having a squeaky voice that destroyed his career in talkies.
Golden provides readers with a definitive biography on Gilbert that is well-supported and respectful of Gilbert’s life and legacy. The book is also amply supplemented with interesting photographs and an interesting glimpse into the grand and brutal behind-the-scenes reality of Gilbert’s time during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Hometowns to Hollywood 