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John Gilbert

John Gilbert

12 movies on Netflix

Biography

John Gilbert was an American actor, screenwriter and director who became a leading man of the silent era. Born in Logan, Utah, he performed with stock companies before he began screen acting as an extra in 1915. At MGM his breakthrough came with The Big Parade (1925). The Merry Widow (1926) followed, and he appeared in He Who Gets Slapped (1924) alongside Lon Chaney. Flesh and the Devil (1926) paired him with Greta Garbo. They worked together again on Love (1927). A Woman of Affairs (1928) was another pairing. He also made The Show (1927) and had a cameo in Show People (1928). His career declined after sound arrived, though later accounts questioned the squeaky voice explanation. He returned for Queen Christina (1933). His last film was The Captain Hates the Sea (1934). He died in 1936.

38years old at death

  • Born Logan
  • Died Los Angeles
  • Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22

Movie Career

Films
12
Career span
17 years1916 to 1933

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • John Gilbert, photo 1 of 3
  • John Gilbert, photo 2 of 3
  • John Gilbert, photo 3 of 3

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  1. A role that slipped away

    Irving Thalberg assigned Gilbert to star in Erich von Stroheim's The Merry Widow despite the director's objections. Von Stroheim told his leading man he was forced to use him and did not want him, and Gilbert soon left the set angrily.

  2. First role

    John Gilbert's first screen appearance was in the 1915 short The Mother Instinct, directed by Wilfred Lucas, after he decided to try screen acting and quickly found work as a film extra.

  3. A change of course

    After leaving school, Gilbert sold rubber goods in San Francisco, then in 1914 he performed with the Baker Stock Company in Portland, Oregon.

  4. Behind the camera

    Though Edmund Goulding was the official director, Gilbert was uncredited and handled the love scenes with Garbo. She sought his approval after each scene, and if he did not nod, she would not go on, so MGM let him direct over half the production.

John Gilbert movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top of the page, the section list
  1. The Big Parade1925 Drama, Romance, Waras James 'Jim' Apperson

    IMDb rating 7.97.9K votes

  2. Queen Christina1933 Biography, Drama, Romanceas Antonio

    IMDb rating 7.59.4K votes

  3. Flesh and the Devil1926as Leo von Harden

    IMDb rating 7.65.0K votes

  4. He Who Gets Slapped1924as Bezano

    IMDb rating 7.75.0K votes

  5. The Merry Widow1926as Prince Danilo Petrovich

    IMDb rating 7.22.8K votes

  6. The Hollywood Revue of 19291929as John Gilbert…

    IMDb rating 5.62.6K votes

  7. A Woman of Affairs1928as Neville Holderness

    IMDb rating 7.11.9K votes

  8. Love1927as Capt. Count Alexei Vronsky

    IMDb rating 6.81.3K votes

Most often with

King Vidor directed two of these films, Clarence Brown two. Greta Garbo appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Greta Garbo, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Greta GarboDorothy Sebastian, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Dorothy SebastianEdward Connelly, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Edward ConnellyGeorge Fawcett, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with George FawcettPolly Moran, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Polly MoranRenée Adorée, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Renée AdoréeKing VidorDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by King VidorClarence BrownDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Clarence Brown

Films together

  • Greta Garbo4 films together, 1926 to 1933
    Greta Garbo's page
    • Queen Christina1933IMDb rating 7.5Gilbert as AntonioGarbo as Christina
    • A Woman of Affairs1928IMDb rating 7.1Gilbert as Neville HoldernessGarbo as Diana Merrick
    • Love1927IMDb rating 6.8Gilbert as Capt. Count Alexei VronskyGarbo as Anna Karenina
    • Flesh and the Devil1926IMDb rating 7.6Gilbert as Leo von HardenGarbo as Felicitas
  • Dorothy Sebastian3 films together, 1927 to 1928
    Dorothy Sebastian's page
    • A Woman of Affairs1928IMDb rating 7.1Gilbert as Neville HoldernessSebastian as Constance
    • Love1927IMDb rating 6.8Gilbert as Capt. Count Alexei VronskySebastian as Spectator at Race
    • The Show1927IMDb rating 6.9Gilbert as Cock RobinSebastian as Salvation Army Worker
  • Edward Connelly3 films together, 1926 to 1927
    Edward Connelly's page
    • Love1927IMDb rating 6.8Gilbert as Capt. Count Alexei VronskyConnelly as Russian Orthodox Priest
    • The Show1927IMDb rating 6.9Gilbert as Cock RobinConnelly as The Blind Soldier
    • The Merry Widow1926IMDb rating 7.2Gilbert as Prince Danilo PetrovichConnelly as Ambassador
  • George Fawcett3 films together, 1926 to 1927
    George Fawcett's page
    • Love1927IMDb rating 6.8Gilbert as Capt. Count Alexei VronskyFawcett as Grand Duke Michael
    • Flesh and the Devil1926IMDb rating 7.6Gilbert as Leo von HardenFawcett as Pastor Voss
    • The Merry Widow1926IMDb rating 7.2Gilbert as Prince Danilo PetrovichFawcett as King Nikita
  • Polly Moran3 films together, 1926 to 1928
    Polly Moran's page
    • Show People1928IMDb rating 7.6Gilbert as John GilbertMoran as Maid
    • The Show1927IMDb rating 6.9Gilbert as Cock RobinMoran as Sideshow Spectator
    • Flesh and the Devil1926IMDb rating 7.6Gilbert as Leo von HardenMoran as Family Retainer with bouquet
  • Renée Adorée3 films together, 1925 to 1928
    Renée Adorée's page
    • Show People1928IMDb rating 7.6Gilbert as John GilbertAdorée as Renée Adorée
    • The Show1927IMDb rating 6.9Gilbert as Cock RobinAdorée as Salome
    • The Big Parade1925IMDb rating 7.9Gilbert as James 'Jim' AppersonAdorée as Melisande
  • King VidorDirector, 2 films, 1925 to 1928
    All films by King Vidor
  • Clarence BrownDirector, 2 films, 1926 to 1928
    All films by Clarence Brown

Awards

One award and honor.

Top of the page, the section list
John Gilbert's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
Star on Hollywood Walk of FameHonored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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