"[John} Gilbert has been written about disparagingly in the modern era by critics who find him too weak as an actor or too excessive in his emoting...but one has to consider him in the context of his times, and to compare him with other leading men of the era. Only then is it clear why he was so popular; he cuts a far better figure than most of them, and he has personality, real personality."

from Jeanine Basinger's book "Silent Stars" (2000)

I write about Gilbert's last silent film, "Desert Nights" in this week's featured review. The film was released in 1929 as the industry was undergoing seismic change in the transition to sound. Gilbert was unable to make that transition successfully. By 1934, he was under contract to a studio that refused to give him a screen role. GIlbert famously placed an ad in a trade paper that read "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will neither offer me work nor release me from my contract."

The inability to earn a living doing what you have studied and love is one of the topics covered in Scott Timberg's book "Culture Crash: The Killing of the Creative Class". Timberg includes graphic designers, architects, musicians, librarians, and publishers in his definition of the creative class. He discusses the loss of jobs in Hollywood as the studios have switched to freelancers and global production. Timberg also argues that film critic Pauline Kael played a part in creating an anti-intellectual bias in movie audiences.

Just as the end of the silent era was devastating for many artists (musicians, as well as actors), the end of this decade is also a distressing time for many in the creative class as outsourcing and the internet are wreaking havoc on employment. Timberg, who unfortunately died in December, suggests ways people can support culture and artists at the conclusion of his book. Why not make this one of your New Year's resolutions?

In closing, I will mention that last month I created a site on Patreon - Patreon.com/dramamovies. For a $3 monthly fee subscribers gain access to exclusive posts and reviews, covering made-for-televison movies and limited series in addition to drama movies. Please consider supporting me and as always, enjoy the free content I write for Bellaonline. Best wishes for a productive and peaceful 2020!


Here's the latest article from the Drama Movies site at BellaOnline.com.

Desert Nights (1929) Film Review
John Gilbert outwits a gang of diamond thieves and wins the girl in his final silent film. "Desert Nights" is the latest addition to my "Guilty Pleasures" series.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art306728.asp

Please visit dramamovies.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Drama Movies.


Angela K. Peterson, Drama Movies Editor
http://dramamovies.bellaonline.com