Such a shame that this is virtually all we have of the greatest Barrymore's brilliance at performing Shakespeare. Although I am partial to his silent films of the 1920s, there is no question that John Barrymore was a superb stage actor. He is completely mesmerizing. And a great shame that alcohol destroyed him well before his time. Triumph and tragedy.
There are a couple more of him, on UA-cam, performing Shakespeare, and several others of him soliloquising. :) I agree though. Technology has come too late for some of the best talents.
This scene (and most of the movie) was originally filmed in color, which must have been amazing in 1929. Unfortunately, what we're watching is a black and white print made for TV in the 1950s; the color elements are lost unless an original print turns up. If you watch Chinese Fantasy, the only segment in the movie that exists in color, you can get an idea of what this scene looked like in color.
It must have been incredible to have seen him in 1920 on the stage! I have seen this play several times - biut nothing comes close to this segment. God! He must have been something to see!
He gives off a striking image of Shakespeare's Richard. It's the first time I've heard it done without the British accent but still was very powerful, obviously not as poetic, which is what drives the Shakespeare character. Still, Barrymore pulls it off quite effortlessly.
This is quite brutal dialogue and the way he delivers(minus English accent) denotes it's violence. Presumably this is how he spoke lines in the 1920 Broadway play, we'll never know since he left no recording, so we're fortunate to have this short bit of film of him reciting some lines. For comparison watch how Olivier speaks lines from his 1956 version of Richard III, the flow of his English accent. Even old EJ Ratcliffe here as Henry opposite Barrymore has a flowing English accent. That's why English actors can go straight from doing Shakespeare to doing a Carry-On comedy.
This is an old post and I'm not the pithy type but exactly what is your point? I feel I might be missing it entirely here and if so, sorry, I love language and am no way being snarky. Shakes should be delivered in such a specific accent or not at all? Most English actors are so mannered in their readings it's comical if and of itself like a Python bit.
In Henry VI Part Three the Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III) emerges as a major character. For some reason Barrymore says this is from the First Part, but it's Part Three.
"...with the graceful impartiality of Al Capon[i]," indeed. It must have taken him quite the while to climb down from this. And I don't doubt the direction was simple: "Take your time." If so, that made this merit study.
Although, i'm heterosexual, i have to say that mr. barrymore when introducing his sketch looks quite handsome and urbane.this is the handsomest he'll ever look especially if one knows what will become of him in the years to come.
John Barrymore could always imitate Lionel visually and vocally. On 1 or 2 occasions John replaced Lionel in radio broadcasts as Ebenezer Scrooge. They say you wouldn't know it was Lionel, who was ill.
Unless I'm mistaken, this one short scene is really the only visual record we have of Barrymore in his prime playing Shakespeare as he played it onstage. Of course, there's his Mercutio in the rather awful 1936 "Romeo and Juliet" film with Leslie Howard, but that whole movie is off-kilter; everyone is insanely overaged for their parts, and Barrymore himself was playing Mercutio in his fifties. Even so, he's still better than everyone else in the film. But for prime Barrymore / Shakespeare, this is just about all we have. Treasure it.
Leslie Howard may have been too old to play Romeo for a purist, bit he was an actor as were the rest of the cast. The film is excellent. The cast is fine. Barrymore is superb.
Barrymore did some of Hamlet in 1933 test footage for a proposed full-length feature film of Hamlet. J.B. is good even though he was a little past his prime.
Shakespeare gave you the strength to take risks like this. Silent film stars looked to the stage for breadth, and fashion deemed the death nell for overacting in film. New reality altered the madness, but not the body count. Now diabolical minds sit on sofas with joysticks. With no language skills.
The best of Barrymore and Shakespeare! There is nothing else this good.
One of the greatest Actors of all Time, no doubt about it. Those were milestones of acting and he was way ahead of his time.
Such a shame that this is virtually all we have of the greatest Barrymore's brilliance at performing Shakespeare. Although I am partial to his silent films of the 1920s, there is no question that John Barrymore was a superb stage actor. He is completely mesmerizing. And a great shame that alcohol destroyed him well before his time. Triumph and tragedy.
There are a couple more of him, on UA-cam, performing Shakespeare, and several others of him soliloquising. :) I agree though. Technology has come too late for some of the best talents.
This scene (and most of the movie) was originally filmed in color, which must have been amazing in 1929. Unfortunately, what we're watching is a black and white print made for TV in the 1950s; the color elements are lost unless an original print turns up. If you watch Chinese Fantasy, the only segment in the movie that exists in color, you can get an idea of what this scene looked like in color.
Richard's clock was lined in Scarlet.
It must have been incredible to have seen him in 1920 on the stage! I have seen this play several times - biut nothing comes close to this segment. God! He must have been something to see!
I wondered when the great John Barrymore would appear and alas! I was gandering right at him! That is great acting.
When they were young John and Lionel looked very much alike
He was one of brando's idols and favorite actors.
Brando sucks at acting
As well as Olivier's.
Olivier was trying as hard as he could to imitate Jack' s interpretation
Brando credited Paul Muni as a mentor also.
@@NealKanter True!,as he did Fredric march,James Cagney and Spencer Tracy.
John Barrymore actor legendary 🎭
Theatre 🎭
He gives off a striking image of Shakespeare's Richard. It's the first time I've heard it done without the British accent but still was very powerful, obviously not as poetic, which is what drives the Shakespeare character. Still, Barrymore pulls it off quite effortlessly.
Indeed
The great profile!
Fascinating to see JB at the top of his game instead of his final interview in the bottle.
This sequence was originally filmed in 2 strip Technicolor but allegedly the color version was discarded in the 1950s.
I've seen one or two Technicolor frames from this sequence. The dark part of the background is red and the light part is yellow.
First impression is that he is channeling his brother Lionel.
This is quite brutal dialogue and the way he delivers(minus English accent) denotes it's violence. Presumably this is how he spoke lines in the 1920 Broadway play, we'll never know since he left no recording, so we're fortunate to have this short bit of film of him reciting some lines. For comparison watch how Olivier speaks lines from his 1956 version of Richard III, the flow of his English accent. Even old EJ Ratcliffe here as Henry opposite Barrymore has a flowing English accent. That's why English actors can go straight from doing Shakespeare to doing a Carry-On comedy.
He did leave a radio performance, and he did it exactly the same way as he does here.
This is an old post and I'm not the pithy type but exactly what is your point? I feel I might be missing it entirely here and if so, sorry, I love language and am no way being snarky. Shakes should be delivered in such a specific accent or not at all? Most English actors are so mannered in their readings it's comical if and of itself like a Python bit.
There is the 1928 RCA recording which is one year nearer his 1920 stage performance.
magnifico
In Henry VI Part Three the Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III) emerges as a major character. For some reason Barrymore says this is from the First Part, but it's Part Three.
"...with the graceful impartiality of Al Capon[i]," indeed. It must have taken him quite the while to climb down from this. And I don't doubt the direction was simple: "Take your time." If so, that made this merit study.
Although, i'm heterosexual, i have to say that mr. barrymore when introducing his sketch looks quite handsome and urbane.this is the handsomest he'll ever look especially if one knows what will become of him in the years to come.
Brilliant! But John suddenly looks like his brother Lionel at 3:03!
John Barrymore could always imitate Lionel visually and vocally. On 1 or 2 occasions John replaced Lionel in radio broadcasts as Ebenezer Scrooge. They say you wouldn't know it was Lionel, who was ill.
Wow.
Unless I'm mistaken, this one short scene is really the only visual record we have of Barrymore in his prime playing Shakespeare as he played it onstage. Of course, there's his Mercutio in the rather awful 1936 "Romeo and Juliet" film with Leslie Howard, but that whole movie is off-kilter; everyone is insanely overaged for their parts, and Barrymore himself was playing Mercutio in his fifties. Even so, he's still better than everyone else in the film. But for prime Barrymore / Shakespeare, this is just about all we have. Treasure it.
Leslie Howard may have been too old to play Romeo for a purist, bit he was an actor as were the rest of the cast. The film is excellent. The cast is fine. Barrymore is superb.
@@peterthayer6238 Leslie Howard over diCaprio any day. Any day.
Barrymore did some of Hamlet in 1933 test footage for a proposed full-length feature film of Hamlet. J.B. is good even though he was a little past his prime.
Shakespeare gave you the strength to take risks like this. Silent film stars looked to the stage for breadth, and fashion deemed the death nell for overacting in film. New reality altered the madness, but not the body count. Now diabolical minds sit on sofas with joysticks. With no language skills.
Very impressive indeed
Too true my dear friend, too true
Drew has inherited her skills from John...she should do a Shakespearean film.
She once said her favourite film of his is Twentieth Century, especially the “iron door” parts.
No, Drew's grandfather. Her great grandfathers were Maurice Costello and Maurice Barrymore.
Can anyone tell me what the short scene is BEFORE the soliloquy ? Obviously its not in a room in a palace in London !!