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Prince of Players is a 1955 20th Century Fox biographical film about the 19th century American actor Edwin Booth. The film was directed and produced by Philip Dunne from a screenplay by Moss Hart , based on the book by Eleanor Ruggles .
Prince of Players: Directed by Philip Dunne. With Richard Burton, Maggie McNamara, John Derek, Raymond Massey. A tragic and sentimental story that depicts the early career of the 19th century American actor, Edwin Booth with some mention of the events leading to the assassination of President Lincoln by Edwin's brother, John Wilkes Booth.
- (453)
- Biography, Drama
- Philip Dunne
- 1955-06-24
Prince of Players (1955) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
- The Patriarch – Junius Brutus Booth
- The Prince of Players – Edwin Booth
- The Traitor – John Wilkes Booth
- The Peacemaker – Mary Devlin
- The Bard – William Shakespeare
- The Supporting Players
- The Score – Bernard Herrmann
- The Visual Style
- Conclusion
- To Buy Or Not to Buy
Raymond Massey introduces us to the world of Shakespeare when the curtains rise on Prince of Players. Massey doesn’t just play the character of Junius Brutus, the famed, eccentric nineteenth century actor, he becomes him. Massey carries himself with an air of grandeur as I’m sure a great Shakespearean actor from the past would, and when he is in a ...
Talk about perfect casting, in the 1950’s, Richard Burton was busy establishing himself as a Shakespearean actor, being hailed as the next Olivier, and completed a season with the Old Vic including a successful run of his popular “moody, virile, baleful” Hamlet. Richard Burton is impeccable in the role of Edwin Booth. I am of the opinion that no ot...
John Derek plays the infamous John Wilkes Booth. Since the film focuses on Edwin, we only get a brief outline of John Wilkes and his nefarious motives and actions, but what isthere, is done well. Derek’s characterization contrasts perfectly with Burton. Derek is outspoken, flashy, with an unbridled madness, whereas Burton is quiet, self possessed, ...
Maggie McNamara is the Juliet who tames Burton’s Romeo with her gentle, comforting presence. You can sense the belief she has in Edwin’s abilities as an actor and as a man. Burton’s trust in her to be there for him and his love for her is quite moving as he’s had to go it alone for most of his life and he cherishes the relationship that they share....
Prince of Players treats its audience to monologues from Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, and Edwin Booth’s signature role as Hamlet, among others. Since playwright Moss Hart is on board as screenwriter and long time screenwriter Phillip Dunne is at the director’s helm, these scenes don’t feel like add-ons, necessary evils, nor do they stop the actio...
The reliable Charles Bickford gives a solid performance as Dave Prescott, the Booth’s crusty, demanding manager who over time becomes their trusted friend. Elizabeth Sellars plays Asia Booth, the sister caught between the opposing brothers, and gives a sincere portrayal of concern and care. Esteemed stage actress, director, producer Eva La Gallienn...
Director Phillip Dune chose Bernard Herrmann to provide the score for Prince of Players based on his experience with the composer on The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and as usual, Herrmann’s stirring music fits like hand in glove. According to Herrmann’s biographer, Steven Smith, since childhood Herrmann had nurtured a love of English literature and theate...
Prince of Players handsomely recreates the mid-late nineteenth century through Mary Wills’s costumes (Hans Christian Andersen) and Lyle Wheeler’s art direction (Gone With the Wind), and includes a recreation of the fateful night at Ford’s Theatre. Charles G. Clarke’s cinematography (Miracle on 34th Street) has some particularly striking moments and...
Prince of Playersis a moving depiction of Edwin Booth’s early-mid life and the emotional pain that befell him as he endured a miserable childhood, struggled to maintain his own sanity and the guilt and shame of his family name, and the ray of light that helped him overcome. In this way, Prince of Playersis a fine study of the struggle of managing a...
You can find this film here on Amazon. Hopefully one day the powers that be will restore Prince of Playersto its former glory and present it as it was originally filmed in Cinemascope. But for now, any form of this hidden gem is worth seeing. Enjoy! (Note: I am not an Amazon affiliate.)
Prince of Players is a biographical film about the 19th century American actor Edwin Booth.
Prince of Players (1955) is ostensibly concerned with the life of nineteenth-century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth, but it also weaves in the stories of his alcoholic, somewhat mad, actor father, Junius Booth, and his infamous brother, John Wilkes Booth.
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Prince of Players is a 1955 20th Century Fox biographical film about the 19th century American actor Edwin Booth. The film was directed and produced by Philip Dunne from a screenplay by Moss Hart, based on the book by Eleanor Ruggles.
