Dark Star: The Untold Story of the Meteoric Rise and Fall of Legendary Silent Screen Star John Gilbert

by Leatrice Gilbert Fountain, John B. Maxim

John Gilbert is often remembered for his scorching love scenes with Greta Garbo in silent films, as well as a costly failure in "talkies" who died young because of alcohol and a broken heart. The truth is different, as his daughter Leatrice Gilbert Fountain revels for the first time. She interviewed hundreds of people who worked with and respected her father--directors, writers, cameramen, actors, and actresses--and they remember a much different John Gilbert: not just a romantic idol, but one of the most innovative and admired stars of his day. As the fledgling MGM's biggest star, he had hit after hit: He Who Gets Slapped, The Merry Widow, The Big Parade--huge critical as well as commercial successes. Box office records were set and then broken when Gilbert co-starred with Greta Garbo (his offscreen lover as well) in Flesh and the Devil, Love, and A Woman of Affairs.

Gilbert's career declined not because of his unsuitability for talking pictures (he spoke in a light baritone) but because of the implacable hatred of Louis B. Mayer, the tyrannical head of MGM. Gilbert and Mayer clashed over artistic and personal differences. As a result, Mayer swore to destroy the studio's biggest star: he cast Gilbert in third-rate movies and spread false stories about his drinking and unreliability. He may even have tampered with the sound track of Gilbert's first talkie to make his voice sound laughably high-pitched.

John Gilbert, both a creator and victim of the movie industry, in may ways symbolizes the potent magic of Hollywood. Dark Star restores his reputation as one of the most gifted actors of the silent era and ensures his work will live on.

Genres: Biography, Film, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History, Media Tie In

287 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 1985

About the author

Daughter of silent screen stars John Gilbert and Leatrice Joy. Leatrice was educated at the Westlake School for Girls, the University of California at Berkeley and Trinity College, Dublin. She served in the Women's Army Corp during World War II.

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

After many months of not reading, I recived DARK STAR, a very thoughtful gift from a silent film cyber friend. It was fabulous because this book in particular was at the very top of my to-read wish list.

I discovered John Gilbert some time last December when I joined a silent film forum and my entusiasm grew beyond any I've known for an actor, not simply because of his extraordinary looks, but his talent and charm surpassed Valentino by miles. I'd seen FLESH AND THE DEVIL many years ago but didn't know anything about the great star left by the wayside when complications developed with the head of MGM and Americans, and the rest of the world, fixated on his co-star Greta Garbo.

LGFountain's book touched me deeply because, like my great grandmother Gladys Earlcott, Jack's mother performed in the theater. Gilbert's mother, like my great grandmother, performed with Marjorie Rambeau and her difficulties with a theatrical life bought to mind similar pain and embarassment I've sensed in my own family at having a relative working in the theater. Specifically someone in the theater with an unwanted child.

Though my sister was not, I was surprised to learn that, like my great grandmother, Marlena Deitrich was a good friend of Ouida Rathbone's. The Rathbones were very good to Gladys, her daughter, dad, his brother and two sisters. I can't prove it but chances are very good she knew Gilbert and perhaps enjoyed a dinner party or two with him. Basil was sort of the 'top Brit' in Hollywood at the time and Gilbert's fascination for England was likely enhanced by him.

The book provided a new hatred for Louis Mayer and a suspition of Irving Thalberg that I'd not imagined before. At one point I read in the middle of the night with a flash light to not wake anyone in the room. It was just as enjoyable as I'd expected and I'd read it again, just for the story telling.

I could continue to blubber on about Jack Gilbert but just think everyone should check him out and keep his memory alive. DARK STAR's index and filmography make it a fine reference book, too.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent companion to the more recent Eve Golden biograpy of John Gilbert. Gilbert's daughter got many detailed interviews with his friends and co-workers that make this book an invaluable resource and rounds out the portrait of Gilbert.

[Loni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very tender look at an intriguing person and life. A very touching tribute. Presented with plenty of facts, sentiments and no nonsense, plenty of professional impartiality.

[James Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Gilbert was a complicated man with a complicated legacy, and few understood that as well as his daughter, the author of this book. Born at the height of Gilbert’s fame, Fountain was primarily raised by her mother (Gilbert’s second wife, actress Leatrice Joy) and didn’t have much of a relationship until the last year of his life. Unlike “Mommie Dearest,” this isn’t a tale of revenge against the celebrity father who, for all intents and purposes, abandoned his daughter for the first eight years of her life. “Dark Star” is a rehabilitation of Gilbert’s career, who at the time was considered a victim of the switch to talking pictures because of a high-pitched voice. Fountain digs through the archives and explains how his career was ruined by a combination of bad timing, bad luck, big enemies, and a prickly personality—and that his voice was just fine, thank you very much. The ending, where Fountain describes the rebuilding of her relationship with her father, is incredibly painful to read. Does she understand how heartbreaking it is that she wrote a fan letter to her own father, addressed to his film studio, to ask for an autographed picture? Her writing is surprisingly even-keeled during this part, so much so that you wonder if she’s suppressed the pain or if she has accepted that he wasn’t a perfect father. She does a fantastic job making the career of a one-time star personal without turning herself into the main character.

[Graceann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please see my review at Amazon.com: Grace's Dark Star Book Review

Please click that my review was helpful at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb. Thanks!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-breaking biography of a major Hollywood leading man who died tragically young written by his daughter.

[kabukigal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating glimpse into the early years of Hollywood. An interesting but tragic journey that Gilbert's daughter has taken in unearthing her father's life and death with the aid of writer John Maxim.

[M.R. Dowsing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Co-written by his daughter, this is a moving and well-written biography of John Gilbert, one of Hollywood's biggest stars of the late '20s, whose career suffered a sharp decline after the introduction of sound. The myth is that audience illusions were shattered because he had a squeaky voice, but the authors do a great job of showing that this was not the case and the real reasons were more complex.

Being Gilbert's daughter, LGF was able to interview a number of legendary actors and directors who worked with Gilbert, so while she may be a little biased, this book is based on solid research. Unusually for a biography, this is also a great story as it has both a villain and a hero - the villain being Louis B. Mayer (by almost all accounts a colossal bell-end) and the hero being Marlene Dietrich, a class act who clearly had a heart as big as a house.

As a result of reading this, I sought out one of Gilbert's better talkies, 'Downstairs' (1932), an unusual and enjoyable pre-code comedy in which he plays a scheming chauffeur. There's nothing wrong with his voice and, at the time of writing, it can be seen on YouTube in good quality here: https://youtu.be/fNWnEfIFKao?si=fvWrz...

[Mary Narkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent biography of the brilliant movie star John Gilbert by his daughter. I bought this book on line and when I opened it to start reading, I saw that Leatrice Gilbert Fountain had signed the inside cover with a full page inscription to the old owner of the book. I was thrilled!
Anyway, this book is filled with fascinating details about Hollywood, the early days of silent pictures, MGM, LB Mayer, Greta Garbo, Ina Claire, Virginia Bruce, Leatrice Joy, Irving Thalberg, Charlie Chaplin... and gives us the story of this very likeable, charming, graceful man who really had bad luck on the Silver Screen when Talkies came in.. I agree with his daughter that probably the studio and LB Mayer had it in for him..and jinxed the sound mixing on the first films.. Hiding bass notes and increasing treble sounds to make his voice sound different. They certainly went to other great lengths to sabotage his career. Really worth reading if you are a fan of the cinema.

[Leila Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tragic ending to someone who had “everything” going for him! I feel sad for how his life was cut short. Not a very good childhood but John Gilbert made something of his life. The timing wasn’t great with movies just getting started and movie moguls who thought they were monarchs. Movie were chattel to be ordered around and not to challenge. Kudos to those movie stars who tried to fight the system. It is sad that people thought alcohol was the way to handle problems. Leatrice Gilbert Fountain, not knowing her father, did a wonderful job researching the history and interviewing people who knew her Father. He seemed like a gentleman even though he had his issues. Wonderful insight on John Gilbert.

[KariG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erinomaisesti kirjoitettu ja erittäin informatiivinen elämäkerta mykän elokuvan suurimpiin tähtiin lukeutuneesta John Gilbertistä, joka ajautui työnantajansa M-G-M:n kanssa törmäyskurssille ja sai vihollisekseen koko Hollywoodin mahtavimman studiopäällikön, Louis B. Mayerin. Kirjoittaja kuvaa karulla tavalla Hollywoodin toimintatapoja, mutta ei anna onneksi aivan puhtaita papereita päähenkilöllekään, vaikka tämä onkin hänen isänsä.

[Karen Smithson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dense, detailed, and interesting biography of the film star John Gilbert written by his daughter, Leatrice Gilbert Fountain. If the early days of Hollywood "magic" interest you then this is the book you've been searching for--intrigue, romance, personalities, and history. Wonderful insights on the man and the industry. I highly recommend.

[Krista Lawler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent biography by John Gilberts daughter!

[Alex Enahoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very insightful biography of a fallen star. It is moving, erudite and a compelling remembrance of a man consumed by his demons.

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 It wasn't until she started talking about establishing the relationship with him/his death/Marlene that it became very good.

[Ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me want to scream cry throw up 👍

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Star is a well-researched, entertaining, moving biography of silent film idol John Gilbert, and it's a favorite among the early Hollywood bios I've read. Written by his daughter from a warm, but fairly objective viewpoint, it's a detailed look at a man essentially beaten by circumstance and his own volatile nature. It also contains a lot of easy-to-digest information about cinema’s early history, particularly regarding the origins and operations of the major studios and their moguls.

John Gilbert himself must have been an endlessly charismatic man. The short quotes taken from various interviews throughout his career are evidence enough of his unpretentious wit, charm, and slightly mischievous candor. His life had a sad beginning and a sad ending, but he was, for the most part, a generous and buoyant personality with strong beliefs, stronger whims, and several tragic flaws. His thirst for knowledge, intuitive talent, and general sensitivity are not only gracefully outlined by his daughter, but paralleled in her own writing style as well. Thanks to this biography, the resurfacing of his own work, and "inspired by" films like The Artist (2011) and Babylon (2022), John Gilbert has slowly been getting more attention in cinema history, and I hope that trend continues.

[Angelika · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the less known silent screen idols today, but one of the most fascinating and tragic!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

As hard she tries, the author (and daughter of John Gilbert) is unable to even feign objectivity. It's a quick read, but there are much better biographies out there.