Little Known Tidbit: Nance O’Neil and John Gilbert

Nance O’Neil, the “ships in the night” friend of Lizzie Borden, had a starring role in the film that destroyed the career of silent screen idol John Gilbert.

Here’s the background on the film:

“His Glorious Night, also known as Breath of Scandal has gone down in history as having more or less single-handedly caused the downfall of silent-screen matinee idol John Gilbert, whose ardent declarations of “I love you, I love you” to an overly inert Catherine Dale Owen were parodied twenty-odd years later in MGM’s otherwise highly apocryphal Singing in the Rain (1952). Owen, from the Broadway stage, plays Princess Orsolini, who refuses an arranged marriage in favor of dallying with Kovacs (Gilbert), a dashing cavalry officer. But on the advice of her mother (stage luminary Nance O’Neil), the princess reluctantly informs Kovacs that she cannot love the offspring of a peasant. In revenge, the latter indulges in a bit of blackmail, but true love wins out in the end. Rumors to the contrary, the problem was not with Gilbert’s voice but with screenwriter 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.” -Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide

Gilbert’s voice sounded high-pitched and effeminate in a film where he was supposed to be a romantic swashbuckler. Audiences laughed at him upon hearing his voice at different places in the film and his career as a romantic leading man ended forever. Although Gilbert continued to make several more films over the next 5 years, he never again was the box office star he had once been. Click here for more.

Nance O’Neil was a formidable presence on stage and in films. She had transitioned from the stage to the silent film era and on to the “talkies” with her powerful voice, making over two dozen more films in her career after 1929. Only a handful of her contemporary stage actresses would transition from stage to silents to talkies as she did.

Nance, who died in 1965, would have lived long enough to have seen three foreign film remakes of “His Glorious Night” as well as the 1960 American re-make by Michael Curtiz.

During the Depression years, while many actors had no work, Nance earned her living with these films playing with all the greats – as well as many of the future greats – like Barbara Stanwyck, Lawrence Olivier, Bonita Granville, Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, to name a few. Career longetivity in an industry that sees so many “stars” flicker bright but burn out quickly, surely must have earned her respect among her peers.

But back in 1929, it was our dear old Nance who, literally, had a role in that little piece of theatrical history when John Gilbert met his cinematic demise.

And that, my friends, is a Little Known Tidbit about Nance O’Neil.

NEW PORTRAIT OF LIZZIE BORDEN’S MOTHER FOUND

Note: See added paragraphs at bottom of this post taken from an email I sent to my fellow Geocacher and author Joe Carlson, who’s new book, The Unfortunate Dr. Webster is now available.

 

Sarah Anthony Morse was born in Somerset, MA on September 19, 1823, and married Andrew Jackson Borden, who was born in Fall River, MA on September 13, 1822. They were married on Christmas Day, 1845 in Fall River. They were the biological parents of Lizzie Andrew Borden.

On December 17, 2007, I posted about Andrew’s newly discovered portrait (shown above) which had been laying dormant for decades at the Swansea Historical Society, and included my letter requesting the portrait remain in their care, custody, and ownership. I am happy to report that it now appears that it will be.

But even more exciting is the news that they have found “the other” portrait that was left to the SHS when Andrew’s was delivered decades ago. When I saw Andrew’s portrait during a visit to Fall River last year, I felt at the get-go that the portrait of him was of an Andrew in his early 20’s and remarked when the “other” portrait was located it would more than likely be of his first wife, Sarah. It has now been located and is indeed Lizzie and Emma’s mother, most likely taken near the time she and Andrew were married – 153 years ago! Both portraits share the same type ornate framing. Also found within the structure of Luther’s Museum, is a small framed photograph that may be Sarah’s mother, which they are looking into.

The picture above of Sarah is NOT the portrait – I’m awaiting an email of some digital photos but will have to wait until I’m next in Fall River to see Sarah’s portrait – the companion piece to Andrew’s – up-close and personal.

Oh, how I would love to see both these portraits hanging at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast at 92 Second Street. Perhaps Donald Woods and Lee-ann Wilber, co-owners, can arrange temporary loans for “special showings” in the future such as the anniversary of the murders – August 4th – when hundreds flock to “Mecca”.

The portraits would have still been Andrew’s property when Sarah died and the family lived on Ferry Street. They probably hung there. When Andrew married Abby, seems to me they would have been taken down and stored, maybe eventually at the Swansea farmhouse when that was purchased. I would think Emma, who so loved and remembered her own mother, would have been upset about the portraits being removed. It would not have been appropriate for the portraits to hang at 92 Second Street. Andrew was the boss of the household….why keep a wedding portrait of your first wife in the home you share with your second wife? No, I think the portraits were stored at Swansea for all these years…maybe boxed up in the barn loft, who knows.

On the other hand, when Andrew died, and after the Trial and purchase of “Maplecroft” and the sisters’ visits to Swansea, Emma may have remembered,found and retrieved them and had them hung somewhere (her room?) at Maplecroft. When she moved out in 1905, she may have taken them with her. She may have kept them with her until her death when Orrin Gardner (see extract of Emma’s Will below) inherited most of her stuff and he would have stored them at Swansea where they probably sat dormant until donated to the Swansea Historical Society.

“FIFTH: I give and bequeath to my cousin, Orrin A. Gardner, of Touisset, Massachusetts, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), and all of my household furniture and furnishings, including all books, pictures, ornaments and personal effects not otherwise disposed of in this will, if he shall survive me.”

Time and Time Again

And from another new Fall River friend, check out his blog by clicking —-> here.

I’ve been laxed in putting up something new because I’m out on my Quad during most of my free time. Hid some micro mosaics on Bordenia and enroute to Buckeye we ran across a group of other “treasure hunters” on Quads. Turned out they were tracking the same cache and it was a race! Damn near fell over on the rugged off-road terrain, but our team got there first!! YAY!

Anyway, will be posting a little tidbit – something new – about Hosea Knowlton in a couple days. Keep watching.

And while I’m here – recommended MUST SEE movies:  No Country for Old Men  and There Will Be Blood.  The latter stars Daniel Day Lewis.  Every time he shows up on a set they ought to just hand him a damn Oscar.  He’s that good.

 

SHOUT OUT TO LORIE MELLO OF FALL RIVER: Thank you for the kind comments in “About Me”. I’m a big fan of Louis Howe myself. Let’s hook up when I’m next in Fall River.

 

Aside from her saying she didn’t do things in a hurry, this really has nothing to do with Lizzie Borden, although Lizzie would be amazed to see how “fast time flies” by clicking on this

WORLD CLOCK

Be sure to click on the “Month” “Day” and “Now” buttons to review the differences.

Quite remarkable, I think. Ponder the time you spend looking at it and all that has happened during that time.

Update on the “Brownell” House – Where Emma Borden Stayed

Everybody knows Lizzie Borden’s sister, Emma, was visiting the Brownell’s in Fairhaven on August 4, 1892. The image below is of that house on Green Street, once numbered #19. It’s been “condemned” as a health and safety hazard by the town and while a singular posted No Trespassing sign hangs in the back, it has not deterred looky loo’s and other tourists from trespassing.

Since its been over 3 months since I was on and inside the property (see December 21, 2007 recycled blog entry with slide show), I wanted to follow up.

I sent an email to Bill Roth, Planning Director, who referred me to Pat Fowle, Fairhaven Health Agent, and Wayne Fostin, Building Commissioner. Pat, while very gracious was unable to give any current information and suggested I speak with Wayne who was directly involved.

Wayne Fostin is a most accommodating fellow and quite sympathetic to this eyesore on Green Street. He related how their hands are really tied to do anything whilst the “owner of the property is still alive” and the property remains in Probate Court. He used the words “historic property” and I asked if that was because Emma Borden stayed there. He said it was. However, I rather doubt that…as I would think whatever governing or oversight body having authority to declare it an historic structure would also have authority to not have allowed it to deterriorate into the condition it is now. Wayne said about all the Town of Fairhaven can do is leave it as is until such time it could be torn down or refurbished. We both agreed this could be a long, long time, pending the Probating process.

I remarked to Wayne, who is also the town’s Conservation Agent, about the neighbors being subjected to rats, vermin, bacteria in the air, fire hazards, etc. and he concurred it is a problem but there was nothing more the town of Fairhaven could do except put up a “No Trespassing” sign. He said if they caught trespassers in the act they would be prosecuted. It might be feasible to prosecute local trespassers but misdemeanor trespassing acts by out of state tourists are hardly offenses extraditable, and if they were, hardly cost effective law enforcement for the town of Fairhaven. Of greater concern than trespassers, and Wayne agreed, are other illegal activities that could occur in such a decrepid structure that beckons the drug induced or worse yet – a fire that would threaten and/or destroy neighboring structures and cause bodily injury, even death. Apparently, nothing will or can be done to or with the “Brownell” house until the last and final account in Probate Court regarding this property.

Let’s hope no tragedy happens that would give cause for the Town of Fairhaven to re-write its ordinance and related empowerment regarding condemned structures.

Here’s some charming pictures of Fairhaven. Click here.

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Having nothing to do with the above, I wanted to pass along part of an email sent to me the other day – a friend’s definition of “Cliques”. Rather point on, I thought.

“It is the nature of “cliques”….unique dynamics within cliques…the individual morphs into the whole, losing touch with the one-ness of self, shedding individual thought for group consensus, and huddles to protect the oneness of the clique, thus regurgitating the cycle.”

Something to ponder.