Norma's Leading Men

Norma Shearer loved men and many lucky actors got to grace the screen with the sultry Queen. Here is a list of my favorite of Shearer's leading men and the films they starred in.

Conrad Nagel ~ 6 films
The Snob (1924)
Married Flirts (1924)
Excuse Me (1925)
Pretty Ladies (1925)
The Waning Sex (1926)
The Divorcee (1930)

Both Shearer and Nagel were very influential in the early history of MGM.


Robert Montgomery - 5 films
Their Own Desire (1929)
The Divorcee (1930)
Strangers May Kiss (1931)
Private Lives (1931)
Riptide (1934)

According to Carrie over at Classic Montgomery, Robert was one of Norma's favorite leading men. He often made her laugh on set!


John Gilbert ~ 5 films
The Snob (1924)
The Wolf Man (1924)
Married Flirts (1924)
He Who Gets Slapped (1924)
The Hollywood Revue (1929)

Shearer and Gilbert were romantically linked in the press at one time, but they were really just close friends. (Picture from Divas: The Site)


Clark Gable ~ 3 films
A Free Soul (1931)
A Strange Interlude (1932)
Idiot's Delight (1939)

Shearer hated Gable's fake veneers and she equated kissing him with kissing a horse. Gable was amazed how Shearer could turn on and off her sexuality, especially since he was always on.



Robert Taylor ~ 3 films
A Strange Interlude (1932)
Escape (1940)
Her Cardboard Lover (1942)

Both Shearer and Taylor were unhappy with their roles in Her Cardboard Lover. Oh well!



Frederic March ~ 3 films
Smilin' Through (1932)
The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934)
Romeo and Juliet (1936)

Shearer was once considered for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind and March was a contender for the role of Ashley. We all know how that turned out.


Leslie Howard ~ 3 films
A Free Soul (1931)
Smilin' Through (1932)
Romeo and Juliet (1936)

Norma thought Leslie was simply charming. And why wouldn't she?




Johnny Mack Brown ~ 2 films
After Midnight (1927)
A Lady of Chance (1928)

Brown was at one time a college football star. Hunka hunka!




Chester Morris ~ 1 film
The Divorcee (1930)

Both Morris and Shearer had very striking profiles! Don't you think?






Ramon Novarro ~ 1 film
The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1928)

Shearer and Novarro were close friends and Novarro introduced her to photographer George Hurrell (see previous post).




Tyrone Power ~ 1 film

Marie Antoinette (1938)


Norma had no beau to take to the film premiere of Marie Antoinette. The Queen requested Tyrone Power escort her so she could have a hot guy on her arm.