Le prince des acteurs

I've been known to say Richard Burton is the only person who can speak Shakespeare with the ability to get me to understand what he's saying. In Prince of Players, I got a real treat as he showed Hollywood audiences for the first time his talent in the difficult Shakespearean language. Hamlet's soliloquy, the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, and Richard III's winter monologue are all performed by Richard as his character tours the country acting in various shows.

He plays the brother of John Wilkes Booth (portrayed by John Derek) and the son of a famed Shakespearean actor who already built up a great reputation with his fans. Ever since he was a little boy, he idolized his father's (Raymond Massey) talent and passion for Shakespeare. Raymond often drank too much and had trouble with his performances, and young Richard would help him. Sometimes he recited the lines alongside his father from backstage, so it's no wonder he would grow up and follow in his footsteps, aided by his manager Charles Bickford.

You might think this movie would be about the presidential assassination and how the Booth family was affected, but that's a very short part of the movie. The vast majority follows Richard during his acting tours across the country and his romance with a fellow actress, Maggie Magnamara. They enjoy a whirlwind courtship, but that's the only cutesy part of the movie. This is a drama with family tension, tears, fears, and a heartbreaking score from Bernard Herrmann. If you don't reach for your Kleenex during the opening credits, you must not be a classic music lover. It tells you everything you need to know about the story, and it's beautiful. And with Richard Burton and John Derek to look at, there's no end to the beauty in this movie.

I first saw this when I was in high school and thinking of becoming an actor. Burton's performance and the film's highly romantic vision of Booth as the brooding "natural" Hamlet hooked me. Although it has the outlines of a typical biopic, The Prince of Players offers an extraordinary display of the kind of acting that, at its best, dominated the 19th century stage. Burton was one of the few 20th century artists who knew how to balance a ringing declamatory style with honest, full bodied emotions. It is so different from the typical modern understatement that some audience won't be able to adjust to it. But for those who relish language along with fire in the blood, this is as good as it gets on film. The portrait of the actor Edwin Booth, a man overburdened with the cares of the world, as impetuous, self-indulgent, and nearly batty, is a bit overheated. But it's a typical view of the artist in the mad tradition of Poe. Very 19th Century--and well worth knowing.

I've seen this movie on late-night TV and taped it from satellite. Burton is one of my favorite actors and is very under rated. When Burton is doing the scenes from the Shakespeare plays it is nothing short of stunning. The only reason I didn't give the movie a "10" rating is there were not enough scenes from the plays. John Derek who plays Edwin's infamous brother John can't begin to hold a candle to Burton simply speaking with him in a simple scene. The only other actor in the movie even close to matching Burton's talent is the great Raymond Massey. I haven't seen this movie available on DVD or even VHS. It's a shame hardly anyone has seen this fine film. When I recorded the movie onto S-VHS tape from C-Band satellite, it was the best source available. Far superior to crummy cable. It looked like the film was shot in Technecolor. Big budget for 1953. Maybe IMDb could get a word to someone in Hollywood that this is worthy of at least a special edition DVD. Heck, they released a "Superbit" of Anaconda. If J.Lo can get a hi-res DVD I think Burton deserves one too.

Edwin Booth was exceedingly famous, and should be the main character of this movie. John Wilkes Booth should be a supporting character, even though his dastardly deed certainly rocked the career of Edwin.

Asia Booth (sister of Edwin and John) was a character in this movie. In real life, she wrote a biography of her brother John. It is interesting to read. She does not condone John's infamous bad deed, but she explains John's history from childhood.

There was at least one more sibling in this family: Junius Booth, Jr.

John Wilkes Booth had previously been employed by Laura Keene in her acting company, she who had produced the play "Our American Cousin" the night Lincoln was shot. One year before, John Wilkes lost his job with her. He was a very handsome man, and fancied himself somewhat of a matinée idol.

Laura Keene was America's first female theatrical producer and director, and I feel that she fired John Wilkes due to his self-centered and egotistical demands. Perhaps he was no team player, and was miffed for being fired by a woman.

He had a year to hatch his conspiracy for the demise of Lincoln and other cabinet members, including time to gather his co-conspirators. Thankfully, part of the plan was botched. The other cabinet members escaped being killed. Lincoln had several tickets, including a pair for General and Mrs. U.S. Grant. The Grants declined, as did several other invitees. This is why the Lincolns were the only couple in their box.

Lincoln had just been re-elected. The war was over. The South had lost. John Wilkes Booth had a twisted idea that he must make amends for the 'bad' state of things. The rest is history.

Too bad this helped put Edwin Booth's career into eclipse for awhile. Edwin was so talented, though, that he actually managed to salvage what was left of his career and put it back on track.

The story of the Booth family of actors with the heavy drinking and mad father, Junius Brutus, played by Raymond Massey who is accompanied on his tours out west to the mining camps by son Edwin, a child actor who morphs into Richard Burton), while John Wilkes (John Derek) hones his acting skills and soaks up secessionist fervor in the South. The various stages are set for the young actors, with John Wilkes choosing to act on a bigger stage, as he says to his brother in one scene. The movie focuses on Edwin played by Richard Burton who takes over the Shakespeare roles his father leaves behind when he (the father) cannot carry on any longer. The big dramatic question is if Edwin will follow in his father's footsteps. Who rescues him from the same fate of his father but the beautiful Juliet to his Romeo played by Maggie MacNamara. It may seem a little contrived, but actually the film captures the times really well, portraying the pivotal roles of the theater, the stage, and the actors.