Last week, my friend loaned me a DVD biography of Greta Garbo. There were numerous mentions of her favorite leading man, John Gilbert. I only knew the basics about him, such as he was known as the screen's Greatest Lover and that supposedly his career fizzled out when talkies made the scene. He actually had a beautiful speaking voice, but the long standing rumor of Louis B. Mayer's involvement in John's withdrawal from films is still around. I must do more research.
I was riding the T (subway) the other day, a young man boarded and he looked exactly like John Gilbert!! He seemed to be around 25, and had on a lovely navy blue three piece suit and had the perfect sculpted fudge brown hair and mustache. The same strong jaw, slightly peaked ears, strong patrician nose. I stared. A lot. He had that standout panache that many men, especially young men, fail to achieve. If it wasn't so crowded, I would have made my way over to him and asked for a picture for the blog. (I have no shame.)
Here are a few swoon worthy photos of Dear John...