“Just when you think Plummer can’t top his late career work, along comes his tour-de-force”
– New York Post
In 1997, Christopher Plummer opened Barrymoreat Broadway’s Music Box Theatre. His performance had audiences standing in amazement and showering him with Bravo’s. It sent critics searching for superlatives. That year Plummer won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics’ Circle Award for his performance. The actor defined “tour de force” and “clean sweep.”
Erick Canuel directs a screen adaptation of William Luce’s award-winning play, with Plummer recreating his performance for multiple high-definition cameras, filmed over seven days on location and at the Elgin Theatre, Toronto. Barrymorecomes to select cinemas around New Zealand for a limited season from 15 November.
Set in 1942, Barrymore tells the story of legendary American actor John Barrymore, a member of Hollywood’s most well-known, multi-generational theatrical dynasties. No longer a box office star, Barrymore is left reckoning with the ravages of his life of excess.
The actor has rented a grand, old theatre to rehearse for a backer’s audition to raise money for a revival of his 1920 Broadway triumph in Richard III, and throughout the rehearsal process, Barrymore looks back on the highs and lows of his stunning career and remarkable life.
Barrymore is followed by a behind-the-scenes documentary, Backstage with Barrymore, capturing Plummer and the crew as they prepare to take the stage again. With complete access to the entire process, Backstage with Barrymoreprovides intimate and personal interaction with all those who contributed to both the stage production and the film adaptation. Backstage with Barrymore features rare archival material from Plummer’s Broadway debut in the role, clips from some of John Barrymore’s classic films and interviews with Plummer’s favourite leading ladies including Julie Andrews, Helen Mirren and Zoe Caldwell.
Approximate run-time: 2 hours, 15 minutes, including interval and documentary. In NZ cinemas from 15 November. Visit www.barrymorethefilm.com.
Big Screen NZ 