Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Bumpy Chip It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

ksf-2 Some BIG hollywood names in this silent from 1924... John Barrymore and Mary Astor (oscar for The Great Lie, but probably better known for Maltese Falcon.) Couldn't get bigger names than that! they both made the successful transition to talkies in the 1930s. Astor was pretty new to silents, but did a find job. Here, Lady Margery (Astor) ends up marrying royalty for traditional, practical reasons, even though she was in love with poor Brummel (Barrymore). Age-old story of bad timing, missed connections, regret. Willard Louis is Prince of Wales here... he died young at 44 of typhoid fever. Something about the silents... they seemed to have dumbed everything down for the audience, and really spelled everything out. Current opinion is that it was such a new medium that the directors weren't sure just how much needed to be said in title cards, so they erred on the side of over-explanation. It's good, as silents go. LONG. but good. kind of goes on and on, but there was a story to tell. Picture quality and title cards are excellent. Must have been a professional restoration. Directed by Harry Beaumont, who will be nominated for "Broadway Melody" 1929.

wes-connors "Nowhere in all history can be found a more amazing character than George Bryan Brummel, the friend of Princes, the arbiter of fashion and the social ruler of England during the reign of George III. And nowhere in all fiction can be found more romance than was crowded into the life of this penniless commoner, whose natural charm and studied insolence made him the greatest dandy of all time - the immortal 'Beau' Brummel," asserts the this film's illustrative opening. And John Barrymore is well-suited for the leading role...We begin in 1795, when dapper officer Barrymore gathers with the greatest personages in England for a wedding. The bride is his beautiful young lover Mary Astor (as Margery). Unfortunately, the groom is not Barrymore. Pressured by family to dismiss her true love and submit to an arranged marriage, Ms. Astor weds foppishly fat Willard Louis because Barrymore is a poor commoner and Mr. Louis is a Prince in line to be King. For revenge, Barrymore decides to infiltrate British high society with scandal..."Beau Brummel" suffers from a threadbare plot, but boasts rich production values. Hollywood offered Barrymore greater access to life's pleasures and he returned the favor with moments of relentless overacting; considering the weaknesses in this story, it helps the film. Much admired, Barrymore won the Rudolph Valentino Medal as 1924's "Best Actor" for his "Beau Brummel" characterization. And the film went to the Top 5 in annual lists compiled by the New York Times, Film Daily, and Motion Picture Magazine.****** Beau Brummel (3/30/24) Harry Beaumont ~ John Barrymore, Mary Astor, Willard Louis, Alec B. Francis

blanche-2 This silent version of "Beau Brummel" (there was one in 1913) stars the great John Barrymore in the title role, and he manages without speaking to give us a clear, layered view of this vain social climber. Also starring are Mary Astor, Carmel Myers, and Irene Rich as three of the women in his life. Mary Astor was nearly unrecognizable - low, long eyebrows (they all seemed to have them) and different teeth, and 18 years old! Though in black and white, the sumptuousness of the costumes and the beauty of the sets, as well as the prevailing atmosphere, are all evident. Brummel resigns his commission so that he can literally hang out with the Prince of Wales, who becomes George IV. When he falls out of favor, he also falls on hard times. The woman he loses to her marriage into a wealthy family, Lady Alvanley, remains a loyal friend as does his butler Mortimer.Barrymore's acting, particularly in his last scenes, is brilliant. Thankfully he went into talkies so we would have a chance to hear his beautiful speaking voice.Superior to the MGM color version starring Stewart Granger.

whpratt1 Have always enjoyed John Barrymore's films and also his brother and sister Lionel and Ethel Barrymore. TCM introduced this film for the first time and it was a great joy to view a great masterpiece which was finally produced with a music score and this effect made this film greater to view and enjoy. John Barrymore plays the role as Beau Brummel who falls madly in love with Lady Margery Alvanley, (Mary Astor) and she is spoken for by another military man. This event destroys Beau Brummel's heart and soul and he decides as a soldier to resign and leave the military service. Beau becomes a Regency Social Climber in London Society and meets up with the Prince of Wales, (Willard Louis) and gains his friendship and begins to start his revenge on the British Society. Beau loves women and uses them to his own purpose and arranges for some romantic escapades for the Prince of Wales and in turn gains all kinds of favors. In other words, Beau is a silver fox who manages to out smart everyone and reaches his goal, but is he happy and what happens to him? Was surprised to learn that John Barrymore was 42 years of age when he appeared in this film and Mary Astor was only 18 years of age. Fantastic film, don't miss this one, you will enjoy it if you know who John Barrymore was and his famous film career and a life of drinking and more drinking.