Roland Rushton Movies
John Barrymore is virtually the entire show as 18th-century British fashion plate Beau Brummel. Thanks to his sartorial splendor and quick wit, Brummel is a favorite of the Prince of Wales (Willard Louis)--and with several ladies, though his heart belongs to the beautiful, unobtainable Lady Margery Avanley (played by 17-year-old Mary Astor, who during filming was carrying on a most passionate affair with her leading man). The arrogant Brummel falls from grace after insulting the Prince and then refusing to apologize. We last see Brummel in an asylum, dressed in rags, but with still enough pride to turn away his true love rather than allow her to throw her life away on him. John Barrymore is superb throughout, especially in the poignant sequences after his descent into poverty and disgrace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Barrymore, Mary Astor, (more)
- 1921
During the early '20s, sentimental films about mother love abounded. As the decade went on, however, such mawkish tales were replaced by thoroughly modern daughters and mothers who wanted to keep up with them. This 1921 drama starred Mary Alden -- the same actress who played the mulatto mistress in Birth of a Nation -- as the mother. In spite of running a very long ten reels in length, there really is very little plot. It focuses on the life of Dr. Horace Anthon (Dwight T. Crittenden), his self-sacrificing wife (Alden), and their six children, four boys and two girls. Although the parents do everything for their kids, loving them and disciplining them whenever necessary, the youngsters all grow up to be neglectful adults. The children even forget their mother's birthday as they carry on their own lives, and Mrs. Anthon's only joy is in remembering days gone by. One son becomes a lawyer and then U.S. attorney general. Finally, when he has achieved his greatest success, he remembers the old homestead and brings the family together again. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dwight T. Crittenden, Mary Alden, (more)
- 1921
It is said that every actor wants to play Shakespeare. Will Rogers would seem a likely exception to that rule, but here he is in this silent, taking a stab (albeit comic) at Romeo. Slim (Rogers), of course, begins as a cowpuncher but his boss switches from cattle to sheep, throwing him out of work. In addition his sweetheart, Lulu (Sylvia Breamer), says he should learn to be a real lover, like Douglas Fairbanks. So Slim decides to go work in motion pictures to discover how film folk make love. After he doubles for villains and heroes alike, Lulu changes her mind -- now she thinks Romeo and Juliet is the yardstick by which all lovers should be measured. So Slim obligingly gets his hands on a copy of the play and tries to read it. Naturally he falls asleep, but he dreams the story with himself and his girl in the title roles. When he awakes, however, he throws all technique out the window, grabs Lulu away from his rival (Raymond Hatton) and drags her off to the preache r. His show of force is what she wanted after all and the film ends happily. This was the final picture of Rogers' contract with the Goldwyn Studios. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Rogers, Sylvia Breamer, (more)
