So sad that technological limitations kept Barrymore from filming/recording this scene some 10 years earlier. There is power and intelligence in his performance here. But he is simply too old for the role.
I believe the only color footage of Jack (unless of course you count the now lost technicolor general crack) that survives. Hard to believe he was nearly 52 when this was filmed in Dec 1933. Doesn't he look super duper fantastic!
THANK YOU for this very rare piece of footage. I've seen Barrymore's other screen-test clip from Hamlet but not this one--a very welcome surprise I can tell you. Seeing this makes me doubly regret that Barrymore was never able to turn his tests into a feature-length Hamlet. His performance here is very fine and surprisingly modern. Barrymore's last screen dalliance with Shakespeare is in the otherwise awful film Playmates, where he gives a beautifully moving rendition of "To Be or Not to Be."
Marvelous stuff! Recently read 'John Barrymore, Shakespearean Actor' and I would recommend it to anyone who knows what this video is about. Is this clip from a specific documentary?
Laurence Olivier said that when Jack Barrymore was on stage as Hamlet "the sun came out".He referred to Barrymores performance as perfect and it had a profound impact on him for the rest of his life.Thanks for putting this up.If you can find counsellor at law ,a film Jack did with William Wyler.Some extraordinary moments.Also Arsene Lupin shows Barrymore underplaying with deft touch.
It is positively criminal that Barrymore's Hamlet never made it to the screen. This is amazing.
STSGirl05 1 month ago
How could Orson Welles have seen Barrymore in "Hamlet"? He was 7 years old at the time Barrymore played it.
al1936ful 4 months ago
Marvelous! A shame this is all we have.
steepertree 5 months ago
So sad that technological limitations kept Barrymore from filming/recording this scene some 10 years earlier. There is power and intelligence in his performance here. But he is simply too old for the role.
stevevandien 6 months ago
Barrymore had to make screen test?
NoGoodBoyo1000 8 months ago
If you can find it (try your local library) I strongly suggest reading Gene Fowler's "Goodnight Sweet Prince." A loving but balanced biography.
diarci 9 months ago
I believe the only color footage of Jack (unless of course you count the now lost technicolor general crack) that survives. Hard to believe he was nearly 52 when this was filmed in Dec 1933. Doesn't he look super duper fantastic!
clementinemonkey 9 months ago
This is all gold. would love to see that Welles interview in full.
Mrsilenciobackgammon 10 months ago
the actor in the red cover and necklace is Reginald Denny, Denny appeared with Barrymore on the New York stage in 1920 in "Richard III"
deepseadirt 1 year ago
@deepseadirt The other actor with Barrynore and Denny is Donald Crisp
Cantabrigidian 11 months ago
THANK YOU for this very rare piece of footage. I've seen Barrymore's other screen-test clip from Hamlet but not this one--a very welcome surprise I can tell you. Seeing this makes me doubly regret that Barrymore was never able to turn his tests into a feature-length Hamlet. His performance here is very fine and surprisingly modern. Barrymore's last screen dalliance with Shakespeare is in the otherwise awful film Playmates, where he gives a beautifully moving rendition of "To Be or Not to Be."
iamanatullah 1 year ago
Marvelous stuff! Recently read 'John Barrymore, Shakespearean Actor' and I would recommend it to anyone who knows what this video is about. Is this clip from a specific documentary?
diddeliduddi 1 year ago
@diddeliduddi It's from a late 80's BBC doc, I think. Sadly, nothing else on JB other than what appears here.
cowsill2x2 1 year ago
@diddeliduddi That's an excellent book. Shed much light upon Barrymore's work in Shakespeare:).
stevevandien 9 months ago
Laurence Olivier said that when Jack Barrymore was on stage as Hamlet "the sun came out".He referred to Barrymores performance as perfect and it had a profound impact on him for the rest of his life.Thanks for putting this up.If you can find counsellor at law ,a film Jack did with William Wyler.Some extraordinary moments.Also Arsene Lupin shows Barrymore underplaying with deft touch.
geetargreg 1 year ago