He Had Fame, Money and Everything — Then His Life Fell Apart

In 1928, John Gilbert was one of the biggest stars in the world. Eight years later, he was dead at 38. This Midnight Vault documentary looks at the rise and collapse of the silent-era leading man behind The Big Parade and Flesh and the Devil. We separate documented history from legend: the famous “squeaky voice” myth, the troubled relationship with MGM boss Louis B. Mayer, the disastrous reception of His Glorious Night, and the unproven theory that the studio sabotaged his sound career. We also look at his partnership with Greta Garbo, his struggles with alcohol and failing health, and his final years. In this video: Gilbert’s early life and path to Hollywood The success of The Big Parade (1925) The Garbo partnership and Queen Christina (1933) The arrival of sound and the fall from fame What really happened, and what is only rumor Some accounts, such as the Mayer confrontation and the Garbo engagement, come from widely repeated but secondhand stories, and we flag them as disputed. If you enjoy true stories from Hollywood’s forgotten past, subscribe to Midnight Vault. Source reference: Eve Golden, John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars.