Norma Talmadge was an inconceivably talented actress. Though she didn't survive sound, her contribution to silent films is commendable... thank you for sharing this!
How neat!! I always considered her one of the great beauties of the era and this is my first time to hear her speak. I've read that it was her voice which ended her career when the talkies came out...so, I was expecting something really terrible! It isn't, at all. I'm very surprised.
This is surprising. Having just heard about her, I expected her voice is be very high or low, something would be 'wrong' with it, but no, she has a perfectly decent speaking voice.
Movie historian David Thomson said this about Norma Talmadge, "sound [movies] proved the incongruity of [her] salon prettiness and tenement voice." I didn’t see anything wrong with her voice in this audio recording. Sounds as good as many of the great actresses of the 30s and 40s such as Barbara Stanwick and Jean Arthur.
norma was maybe one of biggest star ever and nobody remember her is two books about her in amazon i have one the other is too expense but i wait one day i will have it, i love norma she have a great voice, do you know her husband was the one who discovery marilyn monroe?
Movie historian David Thomson said this about Norma Talmadge, "sound [movies] proved the incongruity of [her] salon prettiness and tenement voice." I didn’t see anything wrong with her voice in this audio recording. Sounds as good as many of the great actresses of the 30s and 40s such as Barbara Stanwick and Jean Arthur.
there was some truth that the moguls found a way to filter these talents out - in the coming of sound but it rarely had to do with the sound of there voices - A flood of new actors went to Hollywood in 29 and with in 2 years they were the new stars....
I think her talking films were fine, she was Talked into retiring while she was still young, Beautiful and Rich... p.s. she reminds me of Arlene Francis in this piece ..
She should have had a wonderful career. Her diction may have been a little too perfect, though. She had the lilt of their modern day accent in certain places, but it wasn't too garish. Guess they couldn't find a place for her.
His name was Joseph M. Schenck ( he was marilyn sugar daddy and the one who intrudeced her to20 century fox president zanuck, but idont know much about marilyn
Her voice and vocal style is too ahead of her time ... she would have had a great career in talkies if the technology wasn't so wonky and the public hadn't already had a set of expectations in their mind (she was viewed as being a bit upper-crust and her earthy speaking style - which fine to us - was confusing for 1920's audiences) ... it's kind of like hearing Queen Elizabeth saying "hey, how yous guys doin'???"
It's interesting hearing these silent stars speak! Thumbs up!
It's too bad Norma didn't make the cut as far as talkies go because She definitely had a voice.
She never even gave it a shot. She decided to retire as soon as sound became the new standard.
thanks so much for this! I have never heard her voice before. It's wonderful. =)
Norma Talmadge was an inconceivably talented actress. Though she didn't survive sound, her contribution to silent films is commendable... thank you for sharing this!
NORMA AND CONSTANCE ARE MY GREAT, GREAT AUNTS.
Michael, I don't know if you can share but did the studios even give them a chance or did they choose not to enter into the world of talkies?
also Natalie !!! so a Keaton here?
I am big fan of Norma Talmadge her legacy lives on.
How neat!! I always considered her one of the great beauties of the era and this is my first time to hear her speak.
I've read that it was her voice which ended her career when the talkies came out...so, I was expecting something really terrible! It isn't, at all. I'm very surprised.
Norma had an excellent speaking voice. What a shame she only made two talkies. Thanks for uploading !
Miss Talmadge had a very nice speaking voice. Clear, precise enunciation.
This is surprising. Having just heard about her, I expected her voice is be very high or low, something would be 'wrong' with it, but no, she has a perfectly decent speaking voice.
Movie historian David Thomson said this about Norma Talmadge, "sound [movies] proved the incongruity of [her] salon prettiness and tenement voice."
I didn’t see anything wrong with her voice in this audio recording. Sounds as good as many of the great actresses of the 30s and 40s such as Barbara Stanwick and Jean Arthur.
norma was maybe one of biggest star ever and nobody remember her is two books about her in amazon i have one the other is too expense but i wait one day i will have it, i love norma she have a great voice, do you know her husband was the one who discovery marilyn monroe?
I have been to their crypt in hollywood forever cemetery. The sisters are all together there. =)
It sure is great, Marisol! It's great to hear Norma's voice for the first time. And it is quite pleasant! =D
She sounds great and classy 😬
She sounds like Barbara Stanwyck...
OH my goodness, EXACTLY like Stanwyck.
She really does!
What a shame Norma didn't continue in sound, she had a great voice and projected very well, oh well maybe she was tired of being a movie star
Movie historian David Thomson said this about Norma Talmadge, "sound [movies] proved the incongruity of [her] salon prettiness and tenement voice."
I didn’t see anything wrong with her voice in this audio recording. Sounds as good as many of the great actresses of the 30s and 40s such as Barbara Stanwick and Jean Arthur.
there was some truth that the moguls found a way to filter these talents out - in the coming of sound but it rarely had to do with the sound of there voices - A flood of new actors went to Hollywood in 29 and with in 2 years they were the new stars....
She sounds like Binnie Barnes, which is great, but it didn't match the ethereal romantic image that she had cultivated in the silents.
🎂Norma Talmadge 05-02-2022 🎥
she doesn't sound like Lena Lamont at all.
I think her talking films were fine, she was Talked into retiring while she was still young, Beautiful and Rich... p.s. she reminds me of Arlene Francis in this piece ..
I wonder if that NY accent did it. I can hear it slipping through. Example "Person" 38 secs in
@Morpheus1910
yay,
I can't believe that she was killed by her voice..
I've been smitten
with the very female Norma for years.
great
She should have had a wonderful career. Her diction may have been a little too perfect, though. She had the lilt of their modern day accent in certain places, but it wasn't too garish. Guess they couldn't find a place for her.
His name was Joseph M. Schenck ( he was marilyn sugar daddy and the one who intrudeced her to20 century fox president zanuck, but idont know much about marilyn
It's believed that Marilyn / Norma Jeane was named after Norma Talmadge.
Beautiful voice , the end of marriage with Joseph schenck and the adict in cocaine [ Anita loos writting in. her book about the sisters talmádge)
Anita Loos lied her ass off constantly but sadly I havent seen any other bios on the Talmadges
Her voice and vocal style is too ahead of her time ... she would have had a great career in talkies if the technology wasn't so wonky and the public hadn't already had a set of expectations in their mind (she was viewed as being a bit upper-crust and her earthy speaking style - which fine to us - was confusing for 1920's audiences) ... it's kind of like hearing Queen Elizabeth saying "hey, how yous guys doin'???"
No, I didn't What was his name?