Supelice Dreadfully Boring

Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Asad Almond A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

JohnHowardReid Myrna Loy commenced in the chorus in M-G-M's "Pretty Ladies" (1925), but soon graduated to featured roles in Warner Bros "B" efforts, while continuing to grace unbilled or small roles in "A" productions such as the magnificent "Don Juan" (1926) (formerly available on a superb VHS tape) in which she plays Lucrezia Borgia's maid. "Don Juan", of course, was the prestige movie that ushered in the sound era for motion pictures. While there was no spoken dialogue, the whole film was accompanied by a rousing pre-recorded orchestral score, plus effective sound effects. John Barrymore - here in his prime - played the title character with such panache, he overwhelmed most of the cast - including not only Myrna Loy, but just about everyone else.There were, however, just five exceptions. The five who stood up to Barrymore and were not overwhelmed in his presence, were Mary Astor's lovely heroine, Estelle Taylor's treacherous Lucrezia, Warner Oland's Cesare Borgia and Montague Love's villainous Count Donati.

bsmith5552 "Don Juan" has historical significance in that it was the first feature to utilize Warner Bros. "Vitaphone" process wherein a synchronized sound track was used. It consisted of orchestral accompaniment and sound effects. Besides that, it is a pretty good swash buckler giving star John Barrymore a duel role.Barrymore plays Don Jose de Marina and his son Don Juan. In the opening scenes the elder Don Jose catches his wife (Jane Winton) with her lover and casts her from his castle. He sours on all future relationships with women and councils his son as he dies to do like wise.Fast forward about 20 years and we find the young Don Juan in Rome loving and leaving several ladies (most of whom are married). Then one day he meets the virginal Adriana Della Varnese (Mary Astor) and is smitten by her. We learn that the infamous Borgias, Lucrezia (Estelle Taylor) and her brother Cesare (Warner Oland) rule Rome. Their right hand Count Giano Donati (Montague Love) also has designs on the fair Adriana.The Borgias force Adriana to agree to marry Donati in order to save her father (Joseph Swickard) from execution. Don Juan believes that Adriana is doing so willingly and seeks comfort in a love/mistrust relationship with Lucretzia. Needless to say, things get sorted out culminating with an exciting duel between Don Juan and Donati.Barrymore who looked to be in great shape complete with his skin tight leotards, surprised me with his prowess with a sword. He gives a performance worthy of Douglas Fairbanks that other master swash buckler of the silents. It was no stretch for him to play the womanizing playboy, a role he essayed in real life.Barrymore displays his versatility in the scene in the torture chamber where he impersonates the torture master. He contorts his face, much like he did in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), to render himself unrecognizable to the Borgias and the fair Adriana.Mary Astor and Myna Loy, who plays Lucretzia's hand Maiden were just starting out and were only in their early 20s at the time. Hedda Hopper also appears briefly.Unfortunately, Wasrner Bros. chose to tack on a typical Hollywood ending with the hero and heroine riding off into a painted backdrop sunset. It kinda of spoils what had been a good movie.Warner Bros. would release the first synchronized talking picture the following year with Al Jolson's "The Jazz Singer" and the rest, as they say, is history.

bkoganbing Although John Barrymore was 44 when he played the role of Tirso DeMolina's famous libertine, the soft focus photography enabled to look years younger and really do a convincing job as the most famous seducer in fiction. In fact Barrymore plays two roles, the dashing cavalier Don Juan and his stern father who was cuckolded by his wife and imparted some cynical views on women to his young son in a prologue.When the main action of the film gets going it takes place in Rome when the Borgias were running things. Cesare Borgia played by Warner Oland and his evil sister Lucretia who has Estelle Taylor, then Mrs. Jack Dempsey playing her part. They're quite a pair, cruel and sadistic, and they've got a cousin played by Montagu Love who rivals Don Juan in the seducing department.Barrymore is ostensibly in Rome as a student, but he's way too busy with his female conquests for any academics. He and Love have their eyes on the same woman, Mary Astor, who is royalty herself, related to the Orsinis who the Borgias have kicked out of power. That rivalry is what fuels the plot of this film.Director Alan Crosland was obviously influenced by Cecil B. DeMille in directing this film. The sumptuous sets and even more the scenes of debauchery could be found in many a DeMille spectacle. And we don't get DeMille's moralizing with the film either.As for Barrymore he plays the part with the dash and verve of Douglas Fairbanks who later got to play Don Juan, but as a much older man in Faribanks's final film during the sound era. Note the dueling sequence with Love. Warner Brothers for whom this film was produced used some of the same bits in their sound version of The Adventures Of Don Juan with Errol Flynn.There is also a nice bit by Willard Louis as Barrymore's lackey, Pedrillo. Sad that he would die the same year as this film came out. He was quite amusing in the role.Still it's Barrymore's show and quite a show it is. Don Juan is a good chance to see a young John Barrymore at the zenith of his acting talent.

wes-connors John Barrymore stars as "Don Juan", who (as young lad, Philippe De Lacy) is taught by his father (Mr. Barrymore, also as Dad Jose) how to handle women - Love 'Em and Leave 'Em! Learning his lesson well, Barrymore spends much of his time with various women. Willard Louis (as Juan's pal Pedrillo) is especially useful in fending off husbands and other strangers, and doesn't seem too interested in competing with Barrymore for female attention! All goes well until Barrymore is smitten with Mary Astor (as Adriana della Varnese); something about Ms. Astor makes Don Juan want to change his lifestyle, and stick with one woman. But, the reigning Borgias stand in his way - and, Estelle Taylor (as Lucrezia) wants Barrymore, while Montagu Love (as Donati) claims Astor... Notable for Barrymore's turn as Juan, but better for its soundtrack - the original synchronized sound effects and score are as originally utilized in 1926; and, it works much better than musical soundtracks composed a century later. Barrymore's best scene involves his impersonating a dungeon torturer, nearer the end of the film. Some parts of the story are difficult to understand; for example: What happens to Pedrillo? Why does Juan accuse a certain husband of killing his wife? Perhaps to put him in a later escape scene? which is also difficult to comprehend. Some of the actors read their lines so well, title cards are not needed; however, the acting is not always great. Still, there is enough of everything in "Don Juan" to make it a classic. ******** Don Juan (8/6/26) Alan Crosland ~ John Barrymore, Mary Astor, Montagu Love