1-628-433 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

John Gilbert (1895-1936), silent film star, early 20th century. Real hand-coloured photograph. Known as the great lover, Gilbert rivalled even the great Rudolph Valentino as a box office draw. Though he was often cited as one of the high profile examples of an actor who was unsuccessful in making the transition to talkies, his decline as a star in fact had as much to do with studio politics and money as did the sound of his screen voice.