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by Robert M. Fells (Author)
Think of swashbuckler films - loosely defined as an adventure story set in the past - and images of Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power come to mind. Yet to give credit where it's due, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. invented the genre, and John Barrymore rivaled him by starring in some of the finest swashbucklers during its first decade in the 1920s. The titles of his films are still names to conjure with: THE SEA BEAST, DON JUAN, WHEN A MAN LOVES, THE BELOVED ROGUE, and several more. And John Barrymore alone has the distinction of making swashbucklers that span the silent and sound film eras. This volume presents the first pictorial review of all the John Barrymore swashbucklers that were made between 1924 and 1930. Each film is given full cast and crew credits, background information on its production, and critical reaction at the time of its premiere. Many rare posters, photos, and souvenir programs are provided in full color, and a bonus chapter includes rare photos of Barrymore's yacht, 3-D images, and a link to John Barrymore's live radio performance in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. This book is both a celebration of Old Hollywood and a collector's item.
Author Biography
Robert M. Fells is an attorney and executive director of a national trade association in the Washington, D.C. area. Among his avocations, he is a silent film collector and historian, a pianist, and a collector of historical radio broadcasts from the 1930s. He is regarded as the official biographer of George Arliss and has published four volumes on the subject. Bob lives in Northern Virginia with Maureen, his wife of 39 years. They have three grown children, two granddaughters, and Petey, a miniature schnauzer.
