While reading this weeks
Carnival of the Vanities, I saw an error and felt compelled to make a correction there. After doing so, I put some more thought into the general matter. In non-silent film and television, the main characters usually talk. Dialogue is important as pantomime can't convey much nuance or detail.
I don't think I'm wrong, because I know I'm not, but I've been trying to think of other characters who had a lot of screen time but didn't say much. Not counting non-human characters because that is non uncommon for children's programming. There's Pike, Todd, and Terminator. I was told once that the bulk of Henry Fonda's Dialogue in the Cheyenne Social Club was in the first few minutes, after which his character was told to shut up and stands quietly in the background for most of the rest of the film.
I don't think it's some sort of socialist plot to quiet characters out of the spotlight, but I do think there is some unintended discrimination against non-conversationalists in Hollywood.
Goe, shutting up for a bit.
