Starring John Barrymore, Mary Astor, Willard Louis
Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures
George Brummel is frustrated and angry. The woman he loves is marrying into aristocracy and he, a lowly commoner in the army, is left on the outside looking in. He is angry at his station in life and angry with society. He wants vengeance...
So he establishes himself as one of the great fashion and culture trendsetters of the late 1700s. See, because then he can make people wear silly hairstyles and...
Okay, I'm a little fuzzy on what the actual plot for vengeance is. It honestly appears that all Beau Brummel really wants is to put himself into position to sit next to the prince and backhandedly compliment him constantly. As retribution goes, it seems lacking, but whatever works, right?
Ultimately, Beau tries to seduce a lady of the court and the prince who has been his sponsor sends him off to France. He loses his fortune and ends up in a prison hospital stark raving mad. Can he still end up with the woman he loves?
Beau Brummel is boring. Its plot is nonsensical and almost funny, which is decidedly not the tone the film is going for.
John Barrymore is terrific in the lead role. He has a sense of arrogance and humor that is infectious to watch. Unfortunately, it is all in service to a story that is poorly developed.
The main failing of the film is the way the plot skips over the most interesting aspects of the story. We start with Brummel imploring his girl not to get married. Why is this aristocrat and commoner together? Don't know. Then we cut to a scene where Brummel and the prince are BFFs. Again, how did Brummel link up with the prince. Sorry, the film is not interested in that. Next, Brummel is the toast of England, setting every fashion trend. How did he become so influential? That must be in a different movie.
The problem with this approach is the audience is told a lot of information it is never shown.
There is one small moment in the film that I thought was well realized. Brummel has just let go his long time servant, partly because the beau has no money and partly because the man attempted to speak with the prince on his behalf. Brummel is forced to serve himself a meal for the first time and is flummoxed. He can't even cut his own food. It's a great character moment that shows just how pathetic the once mighty lead has become.
Ultimately, Beau Brummel wastes some lavish sets and a standout lead performance on a silly and plodding plot. Unless your entertainment alternative is watching water boil or paint dry, skip this one.
*1/2 out of *****
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