John Barrymore came from a long line of theater actors. He himself first appeared on stage alongside his father in 1900, and in 1903 officially began his career, starring in the likes of Justice (1916) and Richard III (1920). His greatest role was his 1992 appearance in Hamlet, for which he was dubbed “the greatest living American tragedian.”
Barrymore also starred in a slew of silent films, most notably Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920), Sherlock Holmes (1922) and Beau Brummel (1924). He later made the transition to sound movies, starring in the likes of Grand Hotel (1932) and Midnight (1939).
On May 29, 1942, Barrymore died at the age of 60 from pneumonia and cirrhosis. What happened next has been the subject of many rumors. It’s alleged his friends, Errol Flynn, W.C. Fields and Sadakichi Hartmann snuck into the morgue where his body was being held, propped him up against a poker table and allowed him to experience one final celebration.
As it turns out, these rumors are true! In an August 2020 episode of the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, the acting legend’s granddaughter, Drew Barrymore, revealed his corpse had actually been stolen.
“Not only yes, but there have been cinematic interpretations of it,” she exclaimed. Those interpretations include S.O.B., starring Julie Andrews, and allegedly the 1989 comedy Weekend at Bernie’s, in which two friends pretend their deceased boss is alive.
Barrymore added that she wants the same to happen to her. “I will say this, I hope my friends do the same for me. That is the kind of spirit I can get behind. Just prop the old bag up, let’s have a few rounds.
“I think death comes with so much morose sadness and I understand that, but if it’s okay, just for me, if everybody could be really happy and celebratory and have a party, that would be my preference.”
Vintage Hollywood certainly was a different era…
Our Wedding Photographer Accidentally Sent Me the Wrong Photos from Our Wedding — After Seeing Them, I Filed for Divorce
Wow, this story truly takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster! From the heartbreak of Claire’s wedding discovery to her bold confrontation, it’s packed with intensity and drama. The way you capture the progression from her initial shock to her calculated reveal is both gripping and empowering. Her transformation—choosing to rebuild her life and even opening up to a new connection with Jake—feels uplifting and hopeful after everything she endures.
The details really bring the scenes to life, making it easy to visualize the wedding setting, her dinner party confrontation, and even her message exchange with Jake. The structure you’ve crafted keeps the suspense tight, especially with that closing line hinting at new beginnings. It feels like an incredible foundation for a book or even a screenplay. How are you planning to use this piece?
Leave a Reply