Silent Film Star question.

Factual Questions
1

I have heard various stories about silent film stars who were unable to make the transition to talkies, because their voice was embarassing for one reason or another. Was there a case of any star or major player who couldn’t make the transition becuase they could not speak at all?

I guess a secondary question would be, were the stories about the stars who couldn’t make the switch widespread, or did it just happen to a few people?

                         -pat
2

Eve addresses this urban legend over here:
http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/006490.html

Fascinatng fact: Lon Chaney’s mother and father were deaf and dumb…supposedly he developed his cool hand moves (see The Phantom of the Opera for a nice assortment) as a result of signing to them for so many years.

3

Wow, quick response, thanks Uke.
I hadn’t seen that thread. I guess it makes sense that it didn’t happen, but like most urban legends, it makes for such an easy to believe story.
Thanks for setting me straight.

pat

4

Actually, there was at least one case of a silent film star being unable to make the transition to talkies because of his voice being unsuitable.

Raymond Griffith was a big film star in silents. He retired as soon as talkies came in, he quit films (with just one appearance in ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT – but that was a nonspeaking part). Griffith had problems with his trachea and could only speak in a hoarse whisper. He quit acting and went into the production end.

“What we have here is failure to communicate.” – Strother Martin, anticipating the Internet.

www.sff.net/people/rothman

5

Some stars lost their careers not because their voices couldn’t pass muster under sound but because the studios spread rumors that they couldn’t. Louise Brooks, for example, did her own voicework in “The Canary Murder Case” then refused to come back to do some retakes. Her entire vocal work was redubbed and the studio put out the word that her voice was unsuitable. On the other thread there was some discussion of John Gilbert. I don’t know how true Mayer’s direct involvement was, but what I heard is that the soundmen deliberately manipulated the levels to make his voice sound squeaky.