Legendary for his portrayal of the titular role in Hamlet on stage, John Barrymore made his way through both the silents and talkies with a cavalier fashion. Though probably best remembered for his role as the charming gentleman thief of Grand Hotel, Barrymore’s roles also include high powered attorneys, mad doctors, and conniving stage managers.

His personal life wasn’t quite as rosy, though he was often considered one of the greatest living actors of his day. Bad booze, four marriages, and age began to catch up with him by the late 1930s, and he passed away in 1942.

John Barrymore’s Pre-Code Filmography

• General Crack (1930)
• The Man from Blankley’s (1930)
• Moby Dick (1930)
• Svengali (1931)
• The Mad Genius (1931)
• Arsène Lupin (1932)
• Grand Hotel (1932)
• State’s Attorney (1932)
• A Bill of Divorcement (1932)
• Rasputin and the Empress (1932)
• Topaze (1933)
• Reunion in Vienna (1933)
• Dinner at Eight (1933)
• Night Flight (1933)
• Counsellor at Law (1933)
• Long Lost Father (1934)
• Twentieth Century (1934)

Studios

• Warner Brothers
• MGM
• Universal
• RKO
• Columbia

Videos of John Barrymore

Mike Wallace takes on John Barrymore in an episode of “Biography” —

 

Biographies

	Damned in Paradise: The Life of John Barrymore by John Kobler Click here to view this on Amazon.
	Good Night, Sweet Prince by Gene Fowler Click here to view this on Amazon.

John Barrymore Sites and Links

• IMDB
• Wikipedia