Don Juan (1926)

Myrna Loy commenced in the chorus in M-G-M's "Pretty Ladies" (1925), but soon graduated to featured roles in Warner Bros "B" efforts, while continuing to grace unbilled or small roles in "A" productions such as the magnificent "Don Juan" (1926) (formerly available on a superb VHS tape) in which she plays Lucrezia Borgia's maid. "Don Juan", of course, was the prestige movie that ushered in the sound era for motion pictures. While there was no spoken dialogue, the whole film was accompanied by a rousing pre-recorded orchestral score, plus effective sound effects. John Barrymore - here in his prime - played the title character with such panache, he overwhelmed most of the cast - including not only Myrna Loy, but just about everyone else.There were, however, just five exceptions. The five who stood up to Barrymore and were not overwhelmed in his presence, were Mary Astor's lovely heroine, Estelle Taylor's treacherous Lucrezia, Warner Oland's Cesare Borgia and Montague Love's villainous Count Donati.

This is a fun film. It has a charismatic lead in John Barrymore, a deliciously evil villains in Estelle Taylor and Montagu Love, and a beautiful young Mary Astor as the ingénue who cures Don Juan of his skirt chasing ways. There's lots of ardent love scenes and swashbuckling action a la Douglas Fairbanks.The sets and costumes are strange, a bizarre mix of 16th century fashion and art deco. The women sport kiss curls and cupid bow mouths. Modern viewers unused to a thing known as historical context will no doubt laugh at the heavily made up men (especially Don Juan's sidekick; he seems to be wearing more lipstick than Estelle Taylor.) All in all, a good time for silent film fans.

Just saw this at The Paramount Theater in Seattle with Dennis James at the organ. This is an excellent example of what Hollywood was doing so well at the time. The costumes and sets were outstanding, the cast was incredible—Mary Astor was truly archetypal, ethereal and believable as the swooning heroine, Barrymore at his best as a swashbuckling ladies man. This is both a complex story of the "Don Juan" syndrome and a story of suffering and redemption. Several incredible sequences including the horse-mounted sword fighting between Barrymore and a horde of pursuing soldiers at the climax. After which Juan and Adriana head "east" (into the rising sun?) for the safety of Don Juan's native Spain. Don't let others dissuade you, if you get the chance see this movie!

While researching a paper on erotic literature I found many references to Don Juan. This movie, though in black and white and silent did a good job portraying the man who learned disdain for women from his father. The music matched the moods and John Barrymore sure could scowl. The women were quite seductive, but being a movie from the 20's there is nothing graphic about the trysts Don Juan had with the culpable women. The side story of the evil Borgias added to the movie- with its lessons on right and wrong. His salvation in the end comes from meeting a woman who can't be corrupted.