Which actress combined the silents and talkies best
Posted: September 23rd, 2008, 7:57 am
I would probably say Lillian Gish, who was a major star of the silent era from 1915 through to the begining of sound. IMO if she hadn't had a 10-yr-lay of from movies she would now be regarded as the screens greatest actress. However, her films from the 1946 Duel In The Sun onwards showed her to be a great character actress. I just wish she could have played a couple of lead roles in the post war yrs
Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer were silent stars, whose careers continued to shine brightly right through the 30s. However, Garbo made her last film in 1939 and Shearer 1942, when both were still young. In Garbo's case I'm not sure, because like a lot of people, I thought it was her idea to retire. However, There is another view that it was MGM, who thought she was, possibly because she was Swedish, losing her star appeal. That doesn't make sense to me, because in the same yr Garbo made her last film, Hollywood saw the arrival of Ingrid Bergman.
Joan Crawford too was a silent movie star, but I don't think she was as big as the other three mentioned at that point of her career. However, unlike Garbo and Shearer, Crawford did have a lengthy, successful, career in sound.
Jean Arthur too made silent movies, but only became really known for her talkies.
Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer were silent stars, whose careers continued to shine brightly right through the 30s. However, Garbo made her last film in 1939 and Shearer 1942, when both were still young. In Garbo's case I'm not sure, because like a lot of people, I thought it was her idea to retire. However, There is another view that it was MGM, who thought she was, possibly because she was Swedish, losing her star appeal. That doesn't make sense to me, because in the same yr Garbo made her last film, Hollywood saw the arrival of Ingrid Bergman.
Joan Crawford too was a silent movie star, but I don't think she was as big as the other three mentioned at that point of her career. However, unlike Garbo and Shearer, Crawford did have a lengthy, successful, career in sound.
Jean Arthur too made silent movies, but only became really known for her talkies.