Abstract

This paper explores various ways in which the 1924 silent photoplay Beau Brummel, starring John Barrymore, might be considered either superficial or substantial. In the process, it analyses a short sequence of the film that suggests ways in which Barrymore’s acting created a deeper sense of interiority and psychological complexity for a character generally regarded as superficial (i.e., a man of style rather than substance). The paper also considers how the film was used as a vehicle for displaying the star’s versatility as an actor but also how it provoked reflection on the nature of stardom, particularly male stardom at the very height of Barrymore’s acting career.