A big silent star, she faltered in the talkies. I can’t help but think that the character “Lina Lamont” in “Singin’ in the Rain” was named with a nod to her, even though the character was supposedly based on the career of Norma Talmadge.

Laura LaPlante died in 1996. A print of “Show Boat” has been found, I understand; hope it’s better than this.