Richard Barthelmess

Richard Semler "Dick" Barthelmess (1895 – 1963) was an Oscar-nominated silent film star.

Barthelmess was educated at Hudson River Military Academy at Nyack and Trinity College at Hartford, Connecticut. His father died when he was a baby and his mother, Caroline Harris, was a stage actress, so he worked in theatres in his early days, between schooling, doing "walk-ons". This led to acting in college, doing amateur productions. Russian actress Alla Nazimova, a friend of the family, had been taught English by Barthelmess's mother.

Nazimova in return convinced Barthelmess to try acting professionally and he made his first film appearance in 1916 in the serial Gloria's Romance as an extra. At this time he also appeared as a supporting player in several films starring Marguerite Clark. His next role, in War Brides opposite Alla Nazimova, attracted the attention of legendary director D.W. Griffith, who offered him several important roles, finally casting him opposite Lillian Gish in Broken Blossoms (1919) and Way Down East (1920). Read more on Wikipedia

Lowry held the film Broken Blossoms, in which Barthelmess starred, in high esteem; "I see it as one of the greatest and most moving films of all time, one that is also a return to a great tradition of the movies, something that should combine the emotional impact of Griffith's Broken Blossoms....." (Collected Letters Vol 2 Pg. 171). Lowry refers to The Amateur Gentleman, in which Barthelmess starred in his novel Ultramarine when Dana on a drunken drift around Tsjang Tsjang (Dairen) sees signs for the film on 6 occasions; Richard Barthelmess in 'The Amateur Gentleman' (Pgs. 85, 96, 104, 109, 115 and 118); Popplereuter spells out "'Richard Barthelmess in The Amateur Gentleman. A smashing drama of the good old days of Merrie England! Next week!' " (Pg.96); "The Amateur Gentleman?" (Pg. 116).

The Amateur Gentleman 1926

Lowry refers to the film several times in his novel Ultramarine when Dana on a drunken drift around Tsjang Tsjang (Dairen) sees signs for the film on 6 occasions; Richard Barthelmess in 'The Amateur Gentleman' (Pgs. 85, 96, 104, 109, 115 and 118); Popplereuter spells out "'Richard Barthelmess in The Amateur Gentleman. A smashing drama of the good old days of Merrie England! Next week!' " (Pg.96); "The Amateur Gentleman?" (Pg. 116).

Directed by Sidney Ollcott for Inspiration Pictures, distributed by First National Pictureswith a cast including: Richard Barthelmess [Barnabas Barty], Dorothy Dunbar [Lady Cleone Meredith], Gardner James [Ronald Barrymaine], Nigel Barrie [Sir Mortimer Carnaby], Brandon Hurst [Peterby], John Miljan [Viscount Devenham], Edwards Davis [John Barty], Billie Bennett [Duchess of Camberhurst], Herbert Grimwood [Jaspar Gaunt], Gino Corrado [Prince Regent], Sidney de Gray [Captain Chumley], John Peters (John S. Peters) [Captain Slingsby], [?] Belle Bennett? Scenario by Lillie Hayward, from the novel The Amateur Gentleman by Jeffrey Farnol. 

Lowry may have chosen to refer to the film for several reasons. Lowry probably knew the novel as Farnol was a writer who had read while at school (Bowker Pursused By Furies Pg.35).

Barthelmess starred in one of Lowry's favourite films Broken Blossoms. Lowry may have noted the film in Dairen in the summer of 1927 though it was only on general release in England later that year when Lowry may have seen the film. The phrase "A smashing drama of the good old days of Merrie England!" seems close to the publicity material.

Colourful glimpses of old England are depicted in the film transcription of Jeffrey Farnol's novel, "The Amateur Gentleman," now at the Mark Strand. This photoplay takes one back to the days when heroines were haughty and villains were knights; when plots were hatched in picturesque wayside inns; when usury thrived and the hawk-eyed game keepers were kept on the alert by poachers; when men fought with bare fists and old sea captains bragged of their capacity for port wine and were proud of a hook for a hand.

Although this picture is not alive with suspense, it has its captivating moments, due to the frank and simple manner in which it has been produced and Richard Barthelmess's sympathetic portrayal of Barnabas Barty, the handsome son of an ex-pugilist and innkeeper, who, on inheriting a huge fortune, aspires to be a gentleman. After a discussion with his robust father, he is quite content that the best he can expect is to be an amateur gentleman. Sidney Ollcott, producer of the film conception of "Little Old New York," directed this subject, and it is obvious that this production might have been a better piece of work had some unnecessary details been skipped and more attention paid to the incidents through which Barty gains his polish.

It is one of those pictures that has no little mirth in junctures intended to be anything but comical. For instance, Lady Cleone Meredith is thrown from her horse, and while she is still unconscious Barty and the persistent Sir Mortimer Carnaby hold a heated discussion which ends in a fight, in which Barty comes off the victor. The hero then turns his attention to Lady Cleone, who is slowly recovering from her fall. In a little shooting episode three men topple over simultaneously and are therefore seen in different postures of suffering. This scene, instead of giving the audience a shock, caused many persons to giggle and laugh.

In the early chapters Barty's main efforts to become a gentleman appear to be confined to learning from a book how to bow. Later he enlists the assistance of a poacher, who had been a valet to various noblemen, and this renegade menial not only teaches Barty how to act but what to wear. It was all in the days of George III, when the essential article of sartorial equipment was an embroidered waistcoat.

"Why is your eye in mourning?" the villain is asked by a friend, and it is later discovered that the redoubtable Barty is responsible for the villain's disfigured countenance. Barty can really ride a horse, and he triumphs in a steeplechase, much to Sir Mortimer's annoyance.

The scenery, although the picture was made in Hollywood, is quite effective, and the sets of the old houses and streets do their share to help the entertainment. Mr. Ollcott has also introduced a charming sequence in which the background is a garden party. In this episode an indulgent and loquacious duchess furnishes some amusement.

Dorothy Dunbar gives a creditable performance as Lady Cleone. Gardner James is effective as Ronald Barrymaine, and Nigel Barrie is capable as Sir Mortimer. New York Times

Actor Monte Blue visiting Richard Barthelmess and Dorothy Dunbar on the set of the film

The film was actually showing at the Victoria Theatre, Singapore in mid-June 1927 during Lowry's visit aboard Pyrrhus on his voyage to the Far East. Therefore it is possible that Lowry saw the film in Singapore. Another possibility is that he saw the film in New Brighton in October 1927 on his return from the Far East when it was shown at the Trocadero when it followed by another film mentioned by Lowry - Mare Nostrum.

Broken Blossoms 1919

Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl is a 1919 silent film directed by D.W. Griffith. It was distributed by United Artists and premiered on May 13, 1919. It stars Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess and Donald Crisp, and tells the story of young girl, Lucy Burrows, who is abused by her alcoholic prizefighting father, Battling Burrows, and meets Cheng Huan, a kind-hearted Chinese man who falls in love with her. It is based on Thomas Burke's short story 'The Chink and the Child' from the 1916 collection Limehouse Nights.

Read more on Wikipedia

Lowry held this film in high esteem; "I see it as one of the greatest and most moving films of all time, one that is also a return to a great tradition of the movies, something that should combine the emotional impact of Griffith's Broken Blossoms and Isn't Life Wonderful." Collected Letters Vol 2 Pg. 171 ; "Signs along the street mocked at him: Business as usual during alterations: Broken Blossoms: Dead End: No cover at any time. World's loveliest girls. Larger, more modern. He waved them aside" Lunar Caustic. 


You can watch the whole film here: