The Beloved Rogue

Along with DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE, this 1927 action/adventure flick remains one of the best John Barrymore silent vehicles currently available to us. Here "The Great Profile" invades Douglas Fairbanks territory and more than holds his own. There is so much to like about this film that it's hard to know where to begin. Aside from Barrymore's charismatic performance there is the American debut of Conrad Veidt. Just observe his body posture as Louis XI and you'll see what silent screen acting is all about.

Then there is the opportunity to see Mack Swain away from Chaplin and Sennett. The sets by William Cameron Menzies are staggering and the camera work by Joseph August is among the finest in silent film. It was all brought together by Alan Crosland who is best remembered for directing THE JAZZ SINGER although this picture was much more typical of his style.

The print utilized for this DVD is taken from the Killiam Collection and is the same as the one issued by Image Entertainment in 2002. Although it's a little worn in places, the new transfer has better picture quality with the tinted scenes toned down compared to the old Image version.

The William Perry piano score, while not in state of the art sound, has been enhanced and is a great improvement over the previous release. It remains a good example of what a silent piano score should be. A rare opportunity to see John Barrymore in his prime with many other things to savor. It still excites the senses after all these years...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.

UPDATE 2024: A 35mm print was recently discovered in the Library of Congress. It has been restored and is a significant improvement over the old Killiam print which had numerous issues. The orchestral score by Robert Israel easily supplants the old William Perry piano score. It's currently available on Blu-ray from Kino.