Lionel Barrymore on stage, screen and radio explained

Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; 1878–1954) was an American actor of stage, screen, and radio. He also directed several films, wrote scripts, created etchings, sketches, and composed music. He was the eldest child of the actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgie Drew Barrymore, and his two siblings were John and Ethel; these and other family members were part of an acting dynasty. Reluctant to follow his parents' career, Barrymore appeared together with his grandmother Louisa Lane Drew in a stage production of The Rivals at the age of 15. He soon found success on stage in character roles. Although he took a break from acting in 1906–1909 to train in Paris as a painter, he was not successful as an artist, and returned to the US and acting. He also joined his family troupe, from 1910, in their vaudeville act.

Barrymore began his film career in 1911, appearing in numerous silent films, many of which have subsequently been lost. In 1911, he signed a contract with the Biograph Company and appeared as a character actor in short films, many of them directed by D. W. Griffith, before moving into feature-length productions in 1914. He began writing scripts and directing films shortly afterwards, and for the next five years, he did not act on the legitimate stage. Although he had several successes on Broadway after the First World War, he encountered strongly negative criticism in a 1921 production of Macbeth, and in three productions in a row in 1925. Afterwards, he never again appeared on the New York stage. In 1925, he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he became a close friend of Louis B. Mayer, for whom he made numerous films. He directed several films from 1929 to 1931, but concentrated on acting afterwards.

Barrymore became well known in curmudgeonly roles. In 1938, he broke his hip, and, aggravated by arthritis, he lived the remainder of his life in a wheelchair. Mayer made sure that roles were found or written to accommodate Barrymore, who continued to act in films until 1953. During that time, he appeared as Dr. Gillespie in the popular Dr. Kildare film series, with Lew Ayres in the title role, and as Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life—a role that was highly placed on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Heroes and Villains in a film that the critic Philip French described as "a complex inspirational work". Beginning in the 1930s, Barrymore increasingly worked in radio, initially as Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, which was broadcast annually from 1934 to 1953, then in Mayor of the Town, beginning in 1942, and also in a radio series spun off from the Dr. Kildare films (playing the same character that he had played in the films), among others.

Two of the films in which Barrymore appeared—Grand Hotel (1932), and You Can't Take It with You (1938)—won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He was considered for the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1929 film, Madame X, and won the Best Actor award for his performance in A Free Soul (1931). He was inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960, and is, along with his two siblings, included in the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Stage appearances

Barrymore's stage appearances
ProductionDateTheatre (New York City, unless stated)RoleNotes
Billed as Lional Barrymore
Star TheatreFootman
Park Theatre, BostonSubsequently, at the Star Theatre, Buffalo, from January 12, 1897.
Mary Pennington, SpinsterPalmer's TheatreWatson
Squire KatePalmer's Theatre
Cumberland '6114th Street Theatre
Minneapolis–Saint Paul
MagdaMinneapolis–Saint Paul
Oliver TwistMinneapolis–Saint Paul
East LynneMinneapolis–Saint Paul
CamilleMinneapolis–Saint Paul
Uncle DickStar Theatre, Buffalo
Honorable John RigsbyNew National Theatre, WashingtonSubsequently, at the Powers' Theatre, Chicago from January 23, 1899, for two weeks.
ArizonaChicago Grand Opera House, Chicago
Rain CloudsAlbany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Sag Harbor – December 1900Republic TheatreRan for 76 performances
Brixton Burglary – July 8, 1901Herald Square TheatreRan for 48 performances
 – December 1901Empire TheatreRan for 128 performances
– November 1902 and April 1903 – ?Empire TheatreGiuseppeRan for 85 performances in 1902 and then a second run in 1903
 – December 1903Academy of MusicRan for 65 performances
 – May 1904Criterion TheatreRan for 160 performances, transferring to the Empire Theatre on January 25, 1904, and then to the Lyceum Theatre on May 2, 1904
Pantaloon/Alice Sit-by-the-Fire – March 1906Criterion TheatrePantaloonRan for 81 performances; double bill with his siblings
Illinois Theatre, ChicagoAbdullaBarrymore left the production at the end of December
Victoria Theater
Majestic Theatre, ChicagoItalian laborerWritten by Barrymore; co-starred first wife Doris Rankin
Bob AcresBrooklyn
Stalled
Cincinnati
Peter Ibbetson – June 1917Republic TheatreRan for 71 performances; with John Barrymore
 – June 1918Shubert TheatreRan for 120 performances
 – February 28, 1920Plymouth TheatreRan for 77 performances and then another 179 performances after a summer break; adapted play with E. Sheldon and John Barrymore (co-star)
 – July 1920Criterion TheatreMouzonRan for 89 performances
Macbeth –March 1921Apollo TheatreMacbethRan for 28 performances
 – January 1922Broadhurst TheatreRan for 115 performances; co-starred Doris Rankin and Irene Fenwick (second wife)
Laugh, Clown, Laugh – March 1924Belasco TheatreRan for 133 performances
 – February 1925Eltinge TheatreRan for 44 performances
Taps – May 1925Broadhurst TheatreRan for 32 performances
Man or Devil – June 1925Broadhurst TheatreRan for 20 performances

Filmography

As actor

The list does not include the 1913 film The Vengeance of Galora, which Barrymore wrote. Although some sources list him as also appearing in the film, his biographers, James Kotsilibas-Davis and Margot Peters, separately state he did not. Kotsilibas-Davis also lists Fighting Blood (1911), My Hero (1912), and The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912) as films in which Barrymore did not appear, despite claims of other biographers to the contrary; Peters does not list the films in her filmography of the actor.

Barrymore's filmography
FilmYearRoleNotes
1911Debut with Biograph.
Wagon driverUncredited
Jules
Home Folks
Friends
So Near, Yet so Far
Young manLost film
Neighbor
Woodsman
HeredityLost film
Gold and Glitter
My Baby
Union soldier
Brutality
HouseholderActor and writer
Lost film
Three FriendsSecond friendLost film
Desk sergeant
FatherLost film
The Tender Hearted BoyActor and writer
Lost film
Oil and Water
Lost film
Love in an Apartment HotelLost film
Lost film
Lost film
Near to EarthLost film
Fate
Lost film
The Little Tease
The Yaqui Cur
Just Gold
Lost film
Red Hicks Defies the WorldLost film
Lost film
Death's MarathonFinancial backer
Almost a Wild Man
Lost film
Lost film
Lost film
Teddy's Rival
Lost film
Under the Shadow of the LawLost film
I Was Meant for YouLost film
Lost film
Lost film
Lost film
Lost film
  • Lionel designed the lobby poster for this movie.
    Lost film
Lost film
So Runs the WayLost film
All for ScienceLost film
The Bartered CrownLandlordLost film[1]
ClassmatesDumble
Her Father's Silent PartnerLost film
Judith of Bethulia
StrongheartLost film
Brute Force
Woman Against Woman
The Cracksman's GratitudeLost film
Men and Women
The Woman in Black
Lost film
Lost film
Under the GaslightLost film
Wildfire
A Modern MagdalenLindsayLost film
The Curious Conduct of Judge LegardeLost film
ElaineLost film
Lost film
Dora ThorneLost film
Lost film
Dorian's Divorce
Lost film
Lost film
His Father's Son
Lost film
National Red Cross PageantHimselfLost film; Ethel appeared with Lionel in Camille scene
Lost film
Lost film
Jim the PenmanIncomplete film
Boomerang BillBoomerang BillIncomplete film
Incomplete film
Enemies of WomenIncomplete film
Unseeing EyesLost film
Incomplete film, only last two reels exists
America
Decameron NightsSaladinLost film
Meddling Women
I Am the Man Lost film
Lost film
Children of the WhirlwindLost film
The WrongdoersLost film
Fifty-FiftyLost film
Lost film
Die Frau mit dem schlechten RufLost film
Ben-HurExtra
Brooding EyesLost film
Lost film
Wife Tamers
Paris at MidnightVautrin
Mathias
Canterac
Women Love Diamonds
Body and Soul
The Thirteenth Hour
Sadie Thompson
Drums of Love
Road HouseLost film
Alias Jimmy ValentineDoyleLost film
West of ZanzibarCrane
Himself
Free and EasyHimself
Guilty Hands
Barrymore won the Academy Award for Best Actor
Mata Hari
Broken Lullaby
Arsène LupinGuerchard
Grand Hotel
Rasputin and the EmpressRasputin
Sweepings
Looking ForwardBenton
Dinner at Eight
One Man's Journey
Night Flight
Christopher Bean
Should Ladies Behave
This Side of Heaven
Carolina
Treasure Island
David Copperfield
Mark of the Vampire
Public Hero No. 1
Ah, Wilderness!" />
The character is also known as Private Morain
Camille
Captains Courageous
Saratoga
Navy Blue and Gold
Test Pilot
You Can't Take It with You
Young Dr. Kildare
Let Freedom Ring
Calling Dr. Kildare
On Borrowed Time
NarratorBarrymore's narration is on the US release only
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
The Penalty
Dr. Kildare's Wedding DayBarrymore also composed the music
Lady Be Good
Dr. Kildare's Victory
Calling Dr. Gillespie
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
Tennessee Johnson
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case
GrampsShort
3 Men in White
Since You Went AwayClergyman
Dragon SeedNarrator
Thousands CheerAnnouncer
Between Two Women
Three Wise Fools
It's a Wonderful Life
Duel in the Sun
Dark Delusion1947
Key Largo1948
Down to the Sea in Ships
Malaya
Right Cross1950
Bannerline1951
Lone Star1952
Main Street to Broadway1953Himself

As director

Barrymore's director credits
FilmYearNotes
His SecretLost film
Where's the Baby?Lost film
No Place for FatherLost film
Just BoysLost film
Chocolate DynamiteLost film[2]
Life's Whirlpool1917Also writer; lost film
His Glorious Night1929Barrymore also composed the music
Madame XBarrymore was considered for the Academy Award for Best Director
Confession
RedemptionOnly for retakes
Uncredited
Guilty HandsUncredited
Ten Cents a Dance

Radio broadcasts

Barrymore's radio credits (selected)
TitleDateRoleNetworkNotes
A Christmas Carol – December 25, 1953CBSBroadcast annually on Christmas Day
Mayor of the Town1942–1949ABC, CBS, Mutual, and NBCBarrymore also composed the theme
Screen Guild Players

"The Old Lady Shows Her Medals"

NarratorCBSBarrymore played the narration as the author, J. M. Barrie
Dr. Kildare1949–1952Syndicated
The Hallmark Hall of Fame1953–1955HostCBS

Notes and references

Sources

. Hollis Alpert. The Barrymores. 1965. W.H. Allen. London. 30274937.

. Lionel Barrymore. We Barrymores. registration. 1951. Appleton-Century-Crofts. New York, NY. 594282.

. Margot Peters. The House of Barrymore. 1990. Touchstone. New York, NY. 978-0-671-74799-2.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Liebman, Roy . Broadway Actors in Films, 1894-2015 . McFarland Publishing . 6 February 2017 . 23 . 9780786476855 . 11 November 2023 . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111160550/https://books.google.com/books?id=ICUSDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 . live .
  2. Graham, Cooper C. and others, D. W. Griffith and the Biograph Company, Chocolate Dynamite, p. 210. Retrieved via Internet Archive (San Francisco, California), July 4, 2023.