Unique vintage 9.5 x 7.5-inch black and white publicity image, shown giving his last public appearance in April of 1942, weeks before his death, on N.B.C.'s "Rudy Vallee's Varieties," boldly signed in a shaky black fountain pen by Barrymore, and signed and inscribed in violet fountain pen by Vallee at the time of the appearance. In good condition for its age, with the borders trimmed away for framing purposes and a few minor surface creases. Perhaps as a sort of rebellion against the fuss surrounding his good looks, dashing stage and screen star John Barrymore intentionally sought out roles demanding physical distortion, grotesque make-up or floridly bizarre behavior. He found his starring roles in the horror classics Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) and Svengali (1931) far more gratifying than his wildly popular turns in Don Juan (1926) and Grand Hotel (1932). He was also memorable as the crazed puppeteer Vladimir Tsarakov in The Mad Genius (1931) and Professor Gibbs in The Invisible Woman (1940).

• Tweet