GRANTS, N.M. Part I
Do you remember the female, show, “The Drew Barrymore Show.” The Barrymore name has been associated with show business for approximately 120+ years. A famous, Barrymore acting trio included siblings Ethel, Lionel, and John. Since Lionel stars in the June 26 movie, “Captain Courageous”, he will be highlighted in this article. Showtime is this Friday, June 26th at 1 pm in the NMSU Library.
Part 2 Plot
“Captains Courageous” is a sea story about men who risked their lives to catch fish on the Canadian Grand Banks before steam-powered trawlers. The diversified crew included men Great Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Sudan, and Canada. Surprisingly, one day, the crew of the boat, We’re Here, rescue a young man from the sea. The boy, Harvey, is 12 and bound for Europe, when due to seasickness, he falls off an ocean liner. Disko Troop, the owner and captain of the boat, promises to pay the boy and board him until they reach England in approximately four months. Harvey wants to be taken home to New York…… immediately. Trouble follows. Harvey has to accept his situation. All the fisherman aid in his nautical education. The spoiled boy begins to be of help to the men and they accept him on his merits as a worker. More adventures follow. Harvey reunites with his parents and you’ll have to join attendees at the NMSU Library to see the end.
Part 3 Actor Lionel Barrymore
You might say that show business was in the Barrymore family tree OR forest. Many generations were involved in show business. At age six, Lionel’s acting career began. He was with his parents, touring with a troupe. A boy in a troupe became ill; Lionel was the stand-in. at home, he and younger brother, John, often acted in sister Ethel’s plays. She paid them ice cream and at one performance, they made 37 cents. Remember- this was the in the 1880’s. Dogs may have also appeared in the children’s plays. Commodore Perry gave four Eskimo dogs to Lionel’s parents and the family had 35 at one time. At 16, Lionel deserted the theater, rushed to Paris and studied painting. He enjoyed three years of freedom doing what he liked best. At 18, he returned to the stage. At age 27, Lionel finally “arrived” (became a star of the stage). But, poor health in the form of arthritis forced him to leave. He fought back and built himself up. Then, he made his first contact with the movie industry. Shortly after, his brother John commented, “Lionel is one of the world’s greatest actor’s from any angle, in any part and always has been.”Barrymore became Hollywood’s “grand old man.” He succeeded in radio (The Christmas Carol), stage (Macbeth, etc.), film (Grand Hotel, Treasure Island, David Copperfield, Captains Courageous, etc.) and TV (Dr. Kildare series, written New Mexico author, Max Brand.). You see him each Christmas if you watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”. He played the mean old banker.
Person facts about Barrymore include:
• Had a flair for profanity when annoyed
• Loathed Publicity
• Often played grandfathers when he was young
• Despised love scenes and refused to play them
• Described as having a gruff, growling personality
• Married twice See you at the movie!
child-actress in the movie “E.T.” who called her brother “penis breath?” As an adult, she appeared in more movies. Today, she hosts a TV talk