John Barrymore recites The Cowboy's Lament

John Barrymore recites Gene Fowler's poem 'The Cowboy's Lament'. Gene was working at MGM on what proved to be his final script credit, MGM's BILLY THE KID. His favorite work on BILLY THE KID was a poem he wrote, THE COWBOY's LAMENT - the saga of "God damn old Bessie Bond, the courtesan," that could never be used due to censorship and became, naturally, a Bundy Drive Boys (W.C. FIELDS, ERROL FLYNN, ROLAND YOUNG, ANTHONY QUINN, THOMAS MITCHELL, SADAKICHI HARTMANN, JOHN DECKER and GENE FOWLER) favorite.

John made a private recording of this poem and sent it to Gene Fowler as a birthday present on his 52nd Birthday.

Unfortunately, not being able to record it directly to the computer, I've had to record it onto my digital camera first and then download to the computer so the sound seems a bit "tinny" as well as having the obvious crackles from the record! However, since this recording is mega-rare (only a handful of copies were made for family and friends) AND to celebrate Jack's 127th Birthday (February 14 1882) I thought I'd share this with everyone who loves THE GREATEST ACTOR WHO EVER LIVED - MR. JOHN BARRYMORE.




D.Barrymore
P.S. This video was previously "private" to only a few friends!

Category:

Music

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• gene
• fowler
• decker
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• 78rpm
• cowboy's
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• rare

[MsGedankensindfrei]

Thank you for posting this! Not many people know that Fowler loved to write cheesy poetry. If he's known for anything today, it's for his covering the funeral of Buffalo Bill when working for theDenver Post in 1917.

When Barrymore died, many years later, Fowler was the obvious choice for his biographer.

You've probably read Minutes of the Last Meeting --Fowler's firsthand account of the Bundy Drive crew.

Again, thanks!

[clementinemonkey]

My pleasure. Apologies for the bad quality and cackles. If I was computer savvy I'm sure I could get rid of them somehow.

Don't you just love the line "Can you imagine how sore Lionel is going to be when he hears this?"

[GeneKennedy0091]

@MsGedankensindfrei

I have been tracing my Family history for some 30 years and was extremely excited to find out the Fowlers were my cousins. Haven't read everything Fowler wrote but am coming close. Had the privledge of meeting and talking with his son, Will before he passed away. Glad I got this on video. Was also fascinated on Will's writings as well. He was helping me with my writing at the time. I remember the death bed drawing of Barrymore in Will's apartment.

[minxy123able]

Wow~Thank you! I still have the book Minutes of the Last Meeting~So worth reading again and again...cheers to the boys on Bundy Drive, what a legacy they left behind.

[deepseadirt]

hello Clementine. I was wondering do you know of any blooper footage of John fluffing his lines on a film set or cussing? I've developed a love for bloopers. Speaking of Lionel if you type in "BREAKDOWNS OF 1949" you can hear him cussing on the set of KEY LARGO in a scene with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Not my Lionel!!! Priceless, hilarious.

[deepseadirt]

Happy new year Clementine. Thanks again for this recording!1