Allan R. Ellenberger discusses the death of silent-film actress Gladys Brockwell:
"Today is the 79th anniversary of the tragic death of actress Gladys Brockwell. Though virtually unknown today, Brockwell was a popular actress in the teens and 1920s. The Brooklyn-born daughter of a struggling chorus girl, Brockwell entered show business on stage at the age of 3, with her screen debut for the Lubin Company in 1913.
"Brockwell was one of the earliest stars at the Fox Studios. Some of her most important career roles included The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), Stella Maris (1925), Man, Woman and Sin (1927), Seventh Heaven (1927), The Woman Disputed (1928), and The Home Towners (1928). Her last appearance in film was in The Drake Case (1929) for Universal, which she finished two weeks before her death."
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Brockwell died following a nasty car accident. On screen, she livens up the long, long 7th Heaven — her sharp features are a good antidote to Janet Gaynor's borderline-saccharine sweetness in that film — and Brockwell is the best thing about Lights of New York (1928), the first all-talking feature film ever made.
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I found this article thru a link from something on Janet Gaynor. Sadly, Gladys has been pretty much forgotten today but she's one of my absolute favourites. She was great in 7th Heaven, my absolute favourite movie of all time. She chewed up every scene she was in, it was great. Her character was a real b'atch ;-D!!!!! Poor Janet was terrified of her.
Off screen, tho, Gladys was a real gem; an incredibly intelligent woman who was a voracious reader, wrote poetry, composed music for the piano and designed, built and sold several homes. If one of her fans sent her a present she'd try to use that gift in a movie, then write the person to tell them to look for it in such and such a scene. She was amazing — someone I'd have gotten along quite well with!!!!!
So, Andre, thanks for remembering a truly great talent.