Voices of Silent Film Actors

[BettyLouSpence]

We can hear Louise Brooks' voice in God's Gift to Women (1931). Her voice sounds so lithe and musical.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C6oTprKNeVU

[Kitty]

She definitely took to heart her elocution lessons!

[donnie]

It's always interesting to hear what silent stars sounded like in those early talkies.

I saw Blanche Sweet in one a few weeks ago—can't remember what the title was now. But she had a really nice speaking and singing voice. In another thread we discussed Jobyna Ralston's voice; it really didn't sound too much like I thought it would.

There are so many we'll never get to hear, though... I'd really like to know what Mabel Normand's voice sounded like, also Rudolph Valentino. Are there any recordings of Clara Bow, I wonder?

[BettyLouSpence]

There are some of Clara Bow when she wasn't acting - she'd recite Shakespeare into her personal recorder in later years - but they're unfortunately not on YouTube. I did find a scene from Call Her Savage (1932) where I think her speaking voice sounds very relaxed.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BRBgXfZ-w9c

[donnie]

That's interesting. She does have a nice voice that fits her persona as an actress very well. I didn't expect to hear her speak with a New York accent, though I don't know why I wouldn't.

Uh...what's that thing she takes out to bandage his head with...or should I ask?

[BettyLouSpence]

Looks like the collar of her shirt, but oddly enough Gilbert Roland refers to it as a "waist", if I'm hearing that correctly. I know it's not a waistcoat she's wearing but I can't think of anything else waist would refer to in this context. Unless women's shirts in early 1930s America were called waistcoats, and referred to as waists for short...?

[donnie]

It does sound like he's saying "waist." I looked up waistcoat in Wikipedia, and the word seems to have always referred only to kinds of vests worn by men. A mystery...

[Kitty]

The word waist in the US sometimes means a blouse or bodice, according to google.
I, at first, thought she was tearing off her bra, but it's definitely the ruffle of her shirt, and besides, if her bra tore that easily, she should find a new company to get them from.
Isn't it interesting how you see an actor differently watching them in a talkie role as opposed to a silent role? They almost look like totally different people.

[BettyLouSpence]

Detective Kitty to the rescue! That's that mystery solved.

[Kitty]

Detective Kitty to the rescue! That's that mystery solved.