Yep, I missed it

 And all I will say is caretaking is exhausting, society is in free fall, and my medical issues are catching up with me. Happy belated celestial birthday, Mr B. May all of us enjoy some happy vibes and peaceful end of year times. If not end of times! :)

 

No. Today is not Lionel Barrymore's birthday.

 So if you've wandered thru this blog, you know I've unpicked some real whoppers by Mr. B, perhaps the largest of which was him lying about his birthday. It's April 28, as verified by his draft card:

 

 I would imagine some other surprising whoppers include his flight of a skeleton-frame plane into strong wind, barely landing safely and cutting his teeth on the bullet pulled from his daddy in a non-fatal shooting (though maybe he'd blame his family for that). 

Working on this guy's life story and filmography has definitely been a challenge, though a joy most of the time. I have actively enjoyed doing it, and just today was asked about my John and Lionel tattoos: the guy asking was old enough to recall Lionel did a lot of stuff, "especially Christmas". I'm thinking he's referring to It's a Wonderful Life. Which, btw, is really VERY GOOD on the big screen if you get a chance! 

That's all for now, I aspire to update you with more later in this month of Lionel☺️

The random Barrymore sighting for Nov 15

 Yes, it's been a very long hot minute, and life has changed a whole lot... But, in spite of my business/busyness, I find the Barrymore have a way of appearing in my life out of the blue. 

Today's vision was courtesy the film shelves at a Half Price Books in San Antonio, TX. 

 

As follows! 

Really, quite a good price for this special edition of a humungously star-studded film, the first to win best picture Oscar while winning nothing else. I do think Joan Crawford had a good shout for supporting, but really, it was an unprecedented kind of film, probably the first major star show that wasn't a variety one off like Your Show of Shows, etc. 

And honestly, it is really quite good. Everyone is very solid and it's funny and sad and bemusing. John and Greta are gorgeous. Lionel is underplaying brilliantly. 

Give it a glance. Do it for Lionel, particularly today.

Belated post!

 So unlike past years, I have missed a significant Mr B moment (his birthday), but I will claim overstress, a death in the family, and life as causes. It has been physically and emotionally difficult and I was reminded how much Lionel Barrymore accomplished AFTER he began to act from a wheelchair. 

So, to celebrate the man's bday again, let's revisit some of his best post-wheelchair parts!

 Radio, as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. He performed this pre-wheelchair, but he continued on nearly until.he died. Really excellent voice acting

 

 

As Dr. Leonard Gillespie of the Kildare film series. Mostly B filler films, some of them were deeply intense! An excellent part for him.

 

Duel in the Sun, an interesting and unusually complex part for him in his older years. He quite literally was dragged along the ground for a scene! The film itself is high drama and over the top, but old pros Barrymore and Lillian Gish redeem it some.

The other one I would add is Down to the Sea in Ships, but he actually uses crutches in this.  It's adventure but quite wonderfully acted. Dean Stockwell is unusually brilliant. One could argue for On Borrowed Time and You Can't Take it With You (also on crutches).

 

YCTIWY

Down to the Sea in Ships

 

On Borrowed Time

 

 

Happy May (almost!)
 

April photo dump!

 Being Mr. B's birthday month, I offer some pics from "2000 Movies: the 1940s". They're all over and don't include all his films or even all his best ones, but here they are! Note the physical changes in Mr. B over the decade, too. 

See you soon for birthday wishes! 

 

This is a very good film, with great performances all around.

Dark this film was, indeed!

One I still need to see.

Quite a good entry.

Van isn't great, but he was hot property. Haven't seen these final three yet!

Here we are again! In memoriam, Mr. B

 Fair reader, 

It's been the usual nutty year, punctuated by job loss, etc. Be that as it may, here's a brief memorial post for Lionel Barrymore, eldest of the talented and misbegotten trio of actors. I still adore him, still eager to research him, but also feeling, as he did... Old. 

 In Memoriam, by Mr B for John B, after John's death

 

This "tone poem" is a sweet short composition by the fairly talented musician Mr. B. John's death hit him very hard. Give it a listen. 

 

The last narration Mr B did. You can hear his age, but the voice is still compelling! 

On the audio bits page here, there's a wee now on this piece. Startling, to me. 

And finally, for now, I leave you with this narration :

December 12, 1941; an ambitious multi location show. Hollywood at its patriotic finest. 

 

Apologies for brevity, but still... 

 

Thank you, Mr B. 

 

Happy birthday, Mr B! Yet again

As you might imagine, there are indeed things to st and see about Lionel Barrymore! I've had tons of life changes, and it's been hectic! However, as his actual April 28 birthdate looms, I thought I'd share some funds from Lionel-land: First, I bought a copy of the Zeus version of a very early LB film, discovered among the "frozen pool" collection some years ago, with Lillian Russell, "Wildfire", as well as a copy of "The Enemies of Women". So there's that! I'll have to review "Wildfire" here. Mr B spoke kindly of La Russell. 

Second, a new job in a used bookstore has thrown many inexpensive film books my way, and I'll share some tidbits (as well as some older favorites) :

From the New York Times obit in "Hollywood Album" ; see later pic for placement originally on front page

From "The Best of MGM; the Golden Years". The audio file of this film is on this blog.
 

Also from Best of... A classic! 

One of my favorite LB stories! From "A Free Soul" entry in Best of... 

Ah yes, the foundations per Best of for Mr B's lifetime MGM contract

A 1920s pic of Mr. B I was able to straighten and smooth out via Photoshop. Love the casualness. I believe Bob Fells of Silent films today on FB helped me out, or possibly someone else a while back

From "Hollywood Album", a book of NY Times coverage of the deaths of Hollywood stars. Mr. B's passing made front page, lower middle.

I worked sooo long on this pic from The Jest! 

And on this one, with wee brother John

An unposted pic from a late 1920s publicity shoot. Faaabulous. 

That is my photo dump on this Barrymore birthday! Going through the pics again remind me how much I admire this man's work and what a vast and impressive career he had. I even spoke to someone yesterday about his huge popularity in the 30s and 40s, regardless of late career wheelchair use.

So again, my sincere and deep gratitude for your work, big man... You left a helluva impact on film and on people to this day. Wishing my fellow Barrymore fans the Barry-best always. Thanks for checking in now and then! Hope to be more active soon 😊

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. LIONEL BARRYMORE!!