His Glorious Night
Encyclopedia
His Glorious Night is a 1929
American
romance film
directed by Lionel Barrymore
and starring John Gilbert
in his first released talkie
. It has gained notoriety as the film that reputedly ended the career of John Gilbert by revealing that he had a voice unsuitable for sound. More recent research suggests that an old fashioned script that clung too closely to the conventions of silent film was a more likely culprit.The film is based on the 1928 play Olympia by Ferenc Molnár
.
.
Feeling deeply hurt, Kovacs decides to take revenge by indulging in blackmail
, spreading a rumor that he is an imposter and a swindler. The queen fears a scandal and invites herself over to his apartment to retrieve any prove of Orsolini and Kovacs' affair, including love letters. In the end, Kovacs agrees on remaining quiet by having Orsolini spend the night with him. True love is finally reconciled.
's first sound film to be released, it was not his first talkie to be filmed. He previously filmed Redemption
(1930), which was released a year later.
(1952).
In fact, while reviews of the film itself ranged from tepid to cautiously supportive, Gilbert himself received generally good notices and his voice was judged perfectly adequate, if somewhat studied in tone. Mordaunt Hall, the New York Times' film critic, wrote of him:
"Mr. Gilbert's responsibility does not lie with his lines and therefore he is to be congratulated on the manner in which he handles this speaking rôle. His voice is pleasant, but not one which is rich in nuances. His performance is good, but it would benefit by the suggestion of a little more wit."
However, in the same review, Hall singled out the picture's main flaw - a creaky story and old-fashioned approach to the material:
"It is quite evident that the producers intend to keep Mr. Gilbert, even now that he talks in his amorous scenes, before the public as the great screen lover, for in this current narrative this actor constantly repeats "I love you" to the Princess Orsolini as he kisses her. In fact, his many protestations of affection while embracing the charming girl, who is incidentally impersonated by Miss Owen, caused a large female contingent in the theatre yesterday afternoon to giggle and laugh."
This approach to love scenes, far more in line with the technique of silent cinema than sound, was criticised in many reviews. One critic even stated that 'Gilbert will be able to change places with Harry Langdon
. His prowess at lovemaking, which has held the stenos breathless, takes on a comedy aspect, that gets the gum chewers tittering at first, then laughing outright at the very false ring of the couple of dozen "I love you" phrases.'
The laughter was blamed not on Gilbert's voice but Willard Mack
's 'overly florid dialogue, which might have been fine as subtitles but sounded downright embarrassing to audiences when spoken by a cast suffering from the stilted direction of a microphone-conscious Lionel Barrymore'.
for deliberately perpetuating a rumor that Gilbert's voice was unsuitable for sound in order to drive out a star whom he judged to be too expensive, too cocky, and approaching his use-by date. Mayer and Gilbert undoubtedly shared a strong enmity, and according to rumors, Mayer knew that the script was substandard, and deliberately hired an out-of-condition Lionel Barrymore
as the director.
As was common at the time, foreign versions were not dubbed
, but instead made in different versions for foreign markets, with English-speaking actors speaking their lines phonetically. In 1930, the French remake Si l'empereur savait ça, Spanish remake Olimpia and German remake Olympia were released. All versions received notably better reviews.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer sold the film's rights to Paramount Pictures
. A different film version, based on the original play rather than the 1929 movie, was produced as A Breath of Scandal
in 1960.
1929 in film
-Events:The days of the silent film are numbered. A mad scramble to provide synchronized sound is on.*January 20 - The movie In Old Arizona is released. The film is the first full-length talking film to be filmed outdoors....
American
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
romance film
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
directed by Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
and starring John Gilbert
John Gilbert (actor)
John Gilbert was an American actor and a major star of the silent film era.Known as "the great lover," he rivaled even Rudolph Valentino as a box office draw...
in his first released talkie
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
. It has gained notoriety as the film that reputedly ended the career of John Gilbert by revealing that he had a voice unsuitable for sound. More recent research suggests that an old fashioned script that clung too closely to the conventions of silent film was a more likely culprit.The film is based on the 1928 play Olympia by Ferenc Molnár
Ferenc Molnár
LanguageFerenc Molnár was a Hungarian dramatist and novelist. His Americanized name was Franz Molnar...
.
Plot
Although being engaged against her will with a wealthy man, Princess Orsolini (Catherine Dale Owen) is in love with Captain Kovacs (John Gilbert), a cavalry officer she is secretly meeting. Her mother Eugenie (Nance O'Neil), who has found out about the affair forces her to dump Kovacs and take part in the arranged marriage. Though not believing her own words, Orsolini reluctantly tells Kovacs she cannot ever fall in love with a man with his social position, being the son of a peasantPeasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
.
Feeling deeply hurt, Kovacs decides to take revenge by indulging in blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
, spreading a rumor that he is an imposter and a swindler. The queen fears a scandal and invites herself over to his apartment to retrieve any prove of Orsolini and Kovacs' affair, including love letters. In the end, Kovacs agrees on remaining quiet by having Orsolini spend the night with him. True love is finally reconciled.
Cast
- John GilbertJohn Gilbert (actor)John Gilbert was an American actor and a major star of the silent film era.Known as "the great lover," he rivaled even Rudolph Valentino as a box office draw...
as Captain Kovacs - Catherine Dale OwenCatherine Dale OwenCatherine Dale Owen was an American stage and film actress.-Stage career:Born to a prominent family in Louisville, Kentucky, Owen graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City...
as Princess Orsolini - Nance O'Neil as Eugenie
- Gustav von SeyffertitzGustav von SeyffertitzGustav von Seyffertitz was a German film actor and director. He appeared in 118 films between 1917 and 1939.He was born in Haimhausen, Bavaria and died in Los Angeles, California, aged 81.-Selected filmography:...
as Krehl - Hedda HopperHedda HopperHedda Hopper was an American actress and gossip columnist, whose long-running feud with friend turned arch-rival Louella Parsons became at least as notorious as many of Hopper's columns.-Early life:...
as Mrs. Collingswood Stratton - Doris HillDoris HillDoris Hill was an American film actress of the 1920s and 1930s, mostly in B movies.Born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico, Hill moved to Hollywood in the mid-1920s to pursue an acting career. First working as a vaudeville dancer, she received her first film acting role in 1926 when she starred...
as Priscilla Stratton - Tyrell DavisTyrell Davis-Selected filmography:* His Glorious Night * Let Us Be Gay * Strictly Unconventional * The Magnificent Lie * The Road to Singapore * Temptation's Workshop * Our Betters...
as Prince Luigi Caprilli - Gerald Barry as Lord York
- Madeline Seymour as Lady York
- Richard CarleRichard CarleRichard Carle was an American film actor. He appeared in 132 films between 1915 and 1941.He was born as Charles Nicholas Carleto in Somerville, Massachusetts...
as Count Albert - Eva Dennison as Countess Lina
- Youcca Troubetzkov as Von Bergman
- Peter GawthornePeter GawthornePeter Gawthorne was an Irish actor, probably best known for his roles in Will Hay films. Gawthorne was one of Britain's most called-upon bit part actors during the 1940s and 50s....
as General Ettingen
Production
Although His Glorious Night was John GilbertJohn Gilbert (actor)
John Gilbert was an American actor and a major star of the silent film era.Known as "the great lover," he rivaled even Rudolph Valentino as a box office draw...
's first sound film to be released, it was not his first talkie to be filmed. He previously filmed Redemption
Redemption (1930 film)
Redemption is a 1930 talking film directed by Fred Niblo, produced and distributed by MGM, and starring John Gilbert. Reportedly Lionel Barrymore filmed retakes in this picture. This film was actually Gilbert's first talking film but was released after the now infamous His Glorious Night, which...
(1930), which was released a year later.
Reception
The suggestion that Gilbert's vocal performance was so dreadful that it prompted laughter in the audience has long been held as an article of faith in the film world. The tale is thought to have inspired `The Duelling Cavalier', the film at the centre of Singin' in the RainSingin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American comedy musical film starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also providing the choreography...
(1952).
In fact, while reviews of the film itself ranged from tepid to cautiously supportive, Gilbert himself received generally good notices and his voice was judged perfectly adequate, if somewhat studied in tone. Mordaunt Hall, the New York Times' film critic, wrote of him:
"Mr. Gilbert's responsibility does not lie with his lines and therefore he is to be congratulated on the manner in which he handles this speaking rôle. His voice is pleasant, but not one which is rich in nuances. His performance is good, but it would benefit by the suggestion of a little more wit."
However, in the same review, Hall singled out the picture's main flaw - a creaky story and old-fashioned approach to the material:
"It is quite evident that the producers intend to keep Mr. Gilbert, even now that he talks in his amorous scenes, before the public as the great screen lover, for in this current narrative this actor constantly repeats "I love you" to the Princess Orsolini as he kisses her. In fact, his many protestations of affection while embracing the charming girl, who is incidentally impersonated by Miss Owen, caused a large female contingent in the theatre yesterday afternoon to giggle and laugh."
This approach to love scenes, far more in line with the technique of silent cinema than sound, was criticised in many reviews. One critic even stated that 'Gilbert will be able to change places with Harry Langdon
Harry Langdon
Harry Philmore Langdon was an American comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films , and talkies. He was briefly partnered with Oliver Hardy.-Life and career:...
. His prowess at lovemaking, which has held the stenos breathless, takes on a comedy aspect, that gets the gum chewers tittering at first, then laughing outright at the very false ring of the couple of dozen "I love you" phrases.'
The laughter was blamed not on Gilbert's voice but Willard Mack
Willard Mack
Willard Mack was a Canadian-born actor, director, and playwright.Born Charles McLaughlin, in Morrisburg, Ontario, at an early age his family moved to Brooklyn, New York. After two years, they relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where McLaughlin finished high school...
's 'overly florid dialogue, which might have been fine as subtitles but sounded downright embarrassing to audiences when spoken by a cast suffering from the stilted direction of a microphone-conscious Lionel Barrymore'.
Rumors of Sabotage
Some, including Gilbert's own daughter Leatrice Gilbert Fountain, have blamed MGM studio chief Louis B. MayerLouis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
for deliberately perpetuating a rumor that Gilbert's voice was unsuitable for sound in order to drive out a star whom he judged to be too expensive, too cocky, and approaching his use-by date. Mayer and Gilbert undoubtedly shared a strong enmity, and according to rumors, Mayer knew that the script was substandard, and deliberately hired an out-of-condition Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
as the director.
As was common at the time, foreign versions were not dubbed
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
, but instead made in different versions for foreign markets, with English-speaking actors speaking their lines phonetically. In 1930, the French remake Si l'empereur savait ça, Spanish remake Olimpia and German remake Olympia were released. All versions received notably better reviews.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer sold the film's rights to Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. A different film version, based on the original play rather than the 1929 movie, was produced as A Breath of Scandal
A Breath of Scandal
A Breath of Scandal, known as Olympia in Italy, is a 1960 film adapted from Ferenc Molnár's stage play Olympia. It stars Sophia Loren, Maurice Chevalier, John Gavin and Angela Lansbury and was directed by Michael Curtiz. The film is set at the turn of the 20th century and features lush technicolor...
in 1960.