DVD Review: John Barrymore Collection (Sherlock Holmes / Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde / The Beloved Rogue / Tempest) (4pc) (Silent) (Full): John Barrymore, Albert Parker;John S. Robertson;Sam Taylor;Alan Crosland: Movies & TV

Jul09

DVD Review: John Barrymore Collection (Sherlock Holmes / Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde / The Beloved Rogue / Tempest) (4pc) (Silent) (Full): John Barrymore, Albert Parker;John S. Robertson;Sam Taylor;Alan Crosland: Movies & TV

Posted by admin | on 9 July, 08:33 PM

Product Description
SHERLOCK HOLMES (1922) - From the collection of the George Eastman House Motion Picture Department. - When a young prince is accused of a crime that could embroil him in international scandal, debonair super-sleuth Sherlock Holmes comes to his aid, and quickly discovers that behind the incident lurks a criminal mastermind eager to reduce Western civilization to anarchy. Adapted from the hugely popular stage version of Arthur Conan Doyle s stories (by William Gillette), SHERLOCK HOLMES not only provided Barrymore with one of his most prestigious early roles, but also presented the screen debuts of two notable actors: William Powell (The Thin Man) and Roland Young (Topper). SHERLOCK HOLMES was mastered from a 35mm restoration by the George Eastman House Motion Picture Department, and is accompanied by a score by Ben Model, performed on the Miditzer Virtual Theatre Organ. Starring John Barrymore, Roland Young, Carol Dempster, and William Powell.

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1920) Considered by many to be the first great American horror film, John S. Robertson’s Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde allowed stage legend John Barrymore to deliver his first virtuoso performance on film. Blending historic charm with grim naturalism, this version of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is one of the more faithful of the many screen adaptations of Stevenson’s story, recounting a visionary scientist’s ill-fated attempts to unleash the human mysteries that dwell beneath the shell of the civilized self. Mastered from a 35mm negative and complemented with a wealth of supplemental material, this Kino on Video edition beautifully showcases the dramatic brilliance and gruesome thrills of this influential American classic. (LOADED WITH EXTRAS) Starring John Barrymore, Nita Naldi, and Charles Lane.

THE BELOVED ROGUE (1926) John Barrymore In the swashbuckling adventures of Francois Villon. - Includes Filmed Introduction by Orson Welles - John Barrymore sought to out-swashbuckle Douglas Fairbanks in his breathless depiction of France s rapscallion poet, thief and vagabond: François Villon (1431-1463). To prove his mettle, he bounds over the snowy rooftops of Paris, scales a castle tower, and is hurled skyward by the royal catapult but this is no mere stunt picture. Barrymore wielded a simmering sexuality that Fairbanks lacked, endowing the film with an element of eroticism that perfectly suits Villon, who loved France earnestly, Frenchwomen excessively, French wine exclusively. A lavish spectacle boasting the set designs of William Cameron Menzies (The Thief of Bagdad), THE BELOVED ROGUE is Hollywood myth-making at its most ambitious…and entertaining. Starring John Barrymore, Conrad Veidt, Marceline Day, and Mack Swain.

THE TEMPEST (1928) John Barrymore in a stirring romance of Russia on the brink of revolution. An epic romance set in Russia during the final days of the Tsarist autocracy, TEMPEST stars John Barrymore as Sgt. Ivan Markov, a dedicated soldier who defies the rigid class system to receive an officer s commission. But even as he rises through the ranks of military and society, he must contend with resentment from the aristocratic officers including the monocled Ullrich Haupt, who delivers a sinister performance worthy of Erich von Stroheim, himself an uncredited screenwriter on the project. Ignoring the warnings of a grim political prophet (Boris de Fast), Ivan continues his climb to power, and falls in love with a haughty princess (Faust s Camilla Horn), who spurns him and causes him to be stripped of rank. However, the tables are turned when the prophecy of a people s revolt is realized, upending the aristocracy and putting Ivan and Princess Tamara at the mercy of a sweeping tide of fate. Starring John Barrymore, Camilla Horn, and Louis Wolheim.

To Be or Not To Be,

By Brad Baker (Atherton, Ca United States) -

Kino is releasing a new four-DVD box set with four films of the silent era starring legendary John Barrymore. Nice going Kino. In 1925, John Barrymore reprised his Broadway stage production of “Hamlet” in London. Also in 1925, he signed a two-picture contract with Joseph Schenck of United Artists, and in the next two years he produced “The Beloved Rogue” and “The Tempest(though Barrymore earned only $2,000 per week as compared to the $10,000 per week he had earned at Warner Bros.)”. Both of these films are part of this new collection.
First up is “Sherlock Holmes”, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s story.
The film follows the famous Broadway play, including Homles’ early days, in which he decides to study criminology. Holmes comes face-to-face with arch enemy Professor Moriarty(Gustav von Seyffertitz). A young William
Powell has a small role in his first Hollywood movie. “Sherlock Holmes” was shot, in part, on location in London and Switzerland. Watch for a scene with Barrymore strolling along the Thames near the London Bridge. Director Albert Parker later complained of Barrymore’s drinking during the production. Though Barrymore is fine, the movie suffers from lengthy subtitles, and the pace is sadly tedious. This is the first official release of the 1922 “Sherlock Holmes”, on either VHS or DVD, but avid collectors have had access to it for several years. “Sherlock Holmes” was believed to be a lost film, until a battered print surfaced in the 1970’s. It was recovered by film historian James Card, and a restored version was fashioned by George Eastman House Motion Pictures, where Card was working. 1922. B & W. Full-Frame. (1.33:1).
Second is “The Beloved Rogue”, with Barrymore as famous Parisian poet/vagabond Francois Villon. Crotchety King Louis XI(Conrad Veidt) appoints Villon king for one day. Villon uses the opportunity to rouse the thieves, tramps, and trollops of Paris to defend the walled city against the invading Burgundians. In 1927, Barrymore wrote: “I want my next picture to be something different. Villon was a creative poet, and everything happened in his head”. Barrymore’s performance is athletic, as he glides down a banister, and scales castle walls. In one scene, he flexes while being tortured, wearing nothing but a loin cloth. But the film’s highpoint is the clown sequence. Crowned King of Fools, Villon is dressed in clown costume; white face, red nose, and bald head. First he is exuberant. But the King considers his actions as disrespectful, and Villon is banished from his beloved Paris. Barrymore as Villon here was never more expressive or touching. The camera moves in to record each facial movement. This is rarefied, transcendent acting you will never forget. No classic posing of grief. No grand shedding of tears. But only Barrymore’s face, as a great actor disappears in the throes of overwheming artistry. The lavish sets of “The Beloved Rogue” were designed by William Cameron Menzies, who worked on “Gone With the Wind”. This film was one of 13 aired in 1971 on public television as part of “The Silent Years” program, hosted by Orson Welles. Here also,is the show’s filmed introduction by Orson Welles, a friend of Barrymore. 1927. Color Tinted. 98 minutes. Full-Frame (1.33:1).
Next is “The Tempest”, which is set before, during, and after the Russian Revolution. Barrymore plays a Czarist military officer who is rejected by an aristocrat(played by German actress Camilla Horn). Horn had the female lead in Murnau’s “Faust(1926)”. She goes so far as to toss him into prison. In one scene, Barrymore is bare-chested, still handsome at age 46. It was a happy time for Barrymore during production of “The Tempest”, as he enjoyed time with his new wife, Dolores Costello. Yet, despite this, and his financial prosperity, he continued to drink heavily. The studio signed White Russian Vyatcheslav Tourjansky to direct, but he was replaced by Lewis Milestone. Finally, Sam Taylor took over, and he was given screen credit. A screenplay by Erich von Stroheim was used, but after completion, Stroheim insisted that his name be removed from the credits.
1928. B & W. 111 minutes. Full-Frame (1.22:1).
Finally, there is “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, the first great American horror film, directed by John S. Robertson, and Barrymore’s perhaps most famous silent movie role. This version of “Jekyll” is one of the most faithful to Stevenson’s short story(despite the addition of Ziegfield Follies show-girl Nita Naldi). It is the story of one scientist’s doomed attempt to unleash the human mysteries dwelling just beneath the surface of the civilized man. At age 38, Barrymore filmed “Dr. Jekyll” during the day at Astoria Studios(Long Island) and performed “Richard III” on Broadway at night. Including this one, writer Roy Kinnard lists some 16 different versions, sequels, and spin-offs of “Dr. Jekyll” released in the silent era. At least 9 more movie versions surfaced in the sound era, making “Dr. Jekyll” the most filmed subject of all time. Previously released by Kino, and mastered from a 35mm negative, this transfer far surpasses all of the other many VHS and DVD versions. Generous extras include “The Transformation Scene”, a 1909 audio recording, “Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride”, a 1925 short with Stan Laurel, the Sheldon Lewis version released in the same year(1920), “The Many Faces of Jekyll/Hyde(an essay on the story’s history)”, and “About the Score” by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. 1920 80 minutes. 1.33:1. Long over-due, this is an absorbing tribute to one of cinema’s brightest lights. In fact, nothing would really eclipse a good Barrymore performance until 1929 and the coming of sound. For then we might hear him speak.

A good value if you don’t already own these,

By calvinnme “Texan refugee” (Fredericksburg, Va) -
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)

The following is from the press release for this set:

Sherlock Holmes (1922) was mastered from a 35mm restoration by the George Eastman House Motion Picture Department, and is accompanied by a score by Ben Model, performed on the Miditzer Virtual Theatre Organ. It is the only new release in this set.

The other three titles are The Beloved Rogue (1927), Tempest (1928) [both previously released by Image Entertainment] and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) [previously released by Kino]. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is in American Silent Horror Collection (The Man Who Laughs/The Penalty/The Cat and the Canary/Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde/Kingdom of Shadows) (5pc) which I own and highly recommend. Only The Beloved Rogue has any extras, which is an introduction by Orson Welles. The Beloved Rogue is not a well-known Barrymore silent, but it shows him in a cross between swashbuckler and comic that is quite entertaining. Plus you get Conrad Veidt, who up to this time had been playing tragic characters in horror films. Formerly released on DVD in 2002, if this is the same transfer it is a good but not great transfer. The Tempest is a film that has John Barrymore as a Russian peasant in search of a military career at the time of WWI/the Russian Revolution. He is caught in a compromising position, and though innocent, is stripped of rank and thrown into prison for the appearance of the thing. Along comes the Russian Revolution and changes everything. Initially released in 2003, this is a pretty good transfer of the film. If Kino restores Sherlock Holmes like they recently restored the Murnau films, that should be some treat to behold.

The Tempest and The Beloved Rogue currently cost as much individually as this set costs on sale/for preorder. Therefore if you are interested in any three of the four, it would probably be worth your while to purchase the set. If you don’t own any of the four, you should definitely consider picking this set up and see the versatily of John Barrymore’s acting abilities and also that Douglas Fairbanks didn’t have a corner on the market of playing the swashbuckler in the silent realm.
Search John Barrymore Collection (Sherlock Holmes / Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde / The Beloved Rogue / Tempest) (4pc) (Silent) (Full): John Barrymore, Albert Parker;John S. Robertson;Sam Taylor;Alan Crosland: Movies & TV from AmAzon

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