1923-- ENEMIES OF WOMEN online!

More woot! In a goal for my deisre to watch more Lionel, SFToday once more helps out--recently posted was a link to an ongoing restoration of 1923's ENEMIES OF WOMEN, with Himself as a dissolute Russian prince. OMG... y'all check it our on YouTube! And get a look at some spectacular costumes.... It looks very good so far, nice job Library of Congress! Click on link below and scroll down to the work in progress. (link updated April 2021) 

Screengrab above!

Scroll down for Enemies of Women

Resolution: watch more Lionel

Happy new year all, and most of all happy film watching! I'm starting the year with THE WASHINGTON MASQUERADE, the film of the stage play The Claw, in which Mr B starred with his then and future wives (seriously).

It's a quick film, reminiscent of A FREE SOUL, but with a generally lesser supporting cast. Mr B also does little chewing of scenery (bar opening scene!) and there are fine, delicate, even somewhat tender moments. It's enjoyable watching him play a more modulated, quiet character. The finale took me aback, I admit.

This is also the film where Mr B purportedly broke a hand banging it on a table during the opening scene. I buy it :)

The film really makes me wish I could have seen the play, especially given the scandal that ensued leading to his divorce from Doris Rankin.

Best line from another actor: "you're a little man, and very badly dressed " Cue amused Barrymore brow elevation.

Early scene of Jefferson Keane returning triumphantly 

Merry Barrymoring! 

As winter descends... Happy all-holidays

Well, a decade and a difficult year (for me) is almost over. I've not much profound to write  so I'll share some of my favorite Lionel Barrymore pics (and a few with brother John), some colorized and Santafied by yours truly. I wish you all peace, joy, love, and happiness this coming year and always.

In AMERICA 

IN BODY AND SOUL 

Lionel in The Show, Jack in Jekyll & Hyde 

The boys in Arsene Lupin

In Sadie Thompson.  One of my absolute fave films and images

In the second filming of The Mysterious Island

You can enjoy Mr B in a holiday mood under the Audio Tidbits section of this blog.

And Happy New Year!
Sam

Tomorrow and tomorrow... Anniversary of Mr. B's death

Fellow readers, I am ashamed of my lack of work on the blog, but I promise I had very valid medical reasons: I died twice in the ER. So, though I'm still here, I remember with a different feel Mr B's death this day in 1954.

A little office decor... 

I have not sought out his death certificate, though others have noted heart issues. Story goes he was watching TV with the Wheelers when he began having trouble breathing. At the hospital, he lapsed into a coma, dying November 15th. The funeral appeared well - attended, and the paeans were extensive for someone audiences tended to take for granted (some are in the audio page here). Indeed, Mr B had finished a Hallmark radio show the week before he died, and had been in a car crash not long before that, worrying sister Ethel.

Other than in It's a Wonderful Life, much of Mr B's work goes unseen and unknown to more recent audiences, though the range and level of his work across a good 40,50 years is undeniable. From stage to early film to his voice over of Father Time for an animated TV special, Our Mr. Sun, he was there and instigated innovations on stage and screen.

So thanks again, Mr Barrymore, and nod down fondly on us from beyond.

Told ya I'd be back:new LB radio pic

Found a new to me pic of Mr B from a history of radio book today :

.

He gets only this mention, odd considering his fame on film and radio. But it's always good to see a new picture! I neglected to get the book name, but it was a 1950s history. I'll get the name the next time I go there.

As a reminder, you can click right on the audio tidbits page for Mr B performing on radio with a variety of people. Also, brother John is there!

Enjoy! 

FYI: I died

No, really, I did. July 4 I had a massive heart attack and 3 cardiac arrests. From that day  I've spent 59 days in 4 different hospitals. No, I had no warning and did not have heart trouble prior.

But I mean wow.... I'm still managing the fallout physically and mentally. And, I'm encouraging everyone to get regular checkups! Don't be foolish and cavalier about health  if you can manage. I was fortunate to have decent insurance and a safe job. Hopefully I'll be back in December at work.

In the meantime, I wish all the best end of the year. More Lionel to come, promise!

Lionel in Sadie Thompson 

Another film find from LOC: "Let's go to the Movies" 1948

AMPAS produced, this is a 9 minute short on film, "the 1st of a series of motion pictures about motion pictures".

Let's go to the Movies 1948
You can see Mary Pickford, what seems to be Henry Walthall, Chaplin kinetoscope, clips of film audiences, Jolson footage in Jazz Singer, Great Train Robbery footage, as well as Griffith clips, John Barrymore as Richard III in 1929's Show of Shows, and interestingly, a shot of a Key Largo theater marquee--with Bogart, Bacall, and--Robinson.

It's interesting how they show some shots of non-USA theaters, as well. 1948 was a really busy period in Hollywood, so it's not like when they show "little old Hollywood" it's a realistic assessment. The publishing info shows Teaching Film Custodians : Instructional Films, 1948. It is downloadable!

Screengrab--check out the film title!