DON JUAN
starring John Barrymore
MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE
September, 1926
This production is a far hail from "The Sea Beast." It presents the romantic, profiled John Barrymore. And it places him in the years to which he so utterly belongs. The story is laid in the days of the Borgias and one intrigue after another builds a plot mighty with suspense.
Of course, Barrymore in the titular role has many amorous adventures. And not the least of these is with Lucrezia Borgia.
Nothing flavored with high romance is omitted. There is a two-sword duel which Barrymore fights with the daring and enchantment for which we have always adored him. he is all that we have come to expect him to be.
Praise should be given Estelle Taylor who plays Lucrezia Borgia. She is a fascinating actress. Mary Astor is a fragile and beautiful heroine. Willard Louis offers delicious comedy. And Montague Love is also excellent.
Alan Crosland has done splendidly with the direction.
DON JUAN
starring John Barrymore and Mary Astor
PHOTOPLAY
October, 1926
Hey, Mr. Fairbanks, come home quick! John Barrymore is stealing your stuff. He climbs balconies, he rides horses, he fights duels and he makes hot, hot love. Here is a young feller who is determined to live down his dark past as a Shakespearean actor. And here is an actor who is more than just a star; for you cannot tell this reviewer that Barrymore didn't have an active hand in producing this film.
"Don Juan" is a lively burlesque of "The Great Lover" of legend. This boy is so mean with women that the girls won't let him alone. As soon as he sights a good girl, however, he reforms. You can't blame him; good girls were a novelty in Renaissance Italy. In the course of enacting the adventures of the wicked Spaniard, Barrymore gives us Jekyll-and-Hyde, Don Q, Zorro, Hamlet and Beau Brummel. His is such a boundless talent that he can afford to be profligate. He acts with abandon that will arouse the disapproval of the School of Eyebrow Lifters.
The whole production has a lavish beauty. Surely never were
so many beautiful girls assembled in one cast. Estelle Taylor
gives one of the great performances of the year as Lucrezia Borgia.
Montagu Love and Warner Oland are a couple of sinister heroes,
while Mary Astor is the girl whose glance has the purifying effect.
Here is a picture that has great acting, thrilling melodrama and real beauty. Anyone taking a child to "Don Juan" is nothing but a silly.
With the Vitaphone, a real film event.
Video source: Critic's Choice, Movies Unlimited