Prince Of Players (1955)

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Screenwriter Philip Dunne doubled as director on the elaborate filmed biography Prince of Players. Richard Burton stars as the eminent American tragedian Edwin Booth, whose life and career is thrown into turmoil after his younger brother John Wilkes Booth (John Derek) assassinates Abraham Lincoln.… More Screenwriter Philip Dunne doubled as director on the elaborate filmed biography Prince of Players. Richard Burton stars as the eminent American tragedian Edwin Booth, whose life and career is thrown into turmoil after his younger brother John Wilkes Booth (John Derek) assassinates Abraham Lincoln. The film begins as the younger Edwin assists his alcoholic, ailing father Junius Brutus Booth (Raymond Massey) during a tour of the American hinterlands. When Junius dies just before a performance, Edwin goes on in his stead, thereby launching his own starring career. In danger of becoming as much of a drunk and carouser as his father, Edwin eventually pulls himself together, but his brother's act of violence turns the audience against the name of Booth. Almost booed offstage during a performance of Hamlet, Edwin stands his ground, finally earning the respect of his rowdy audience. Not exactly packed with fast action, Prince of Players will appeal most to lovers of theater in general and Shakespeare in particular. Highlight: Richard Burton and Eva LeGalleine performing the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet in the courtyard of a brothel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Philip Dunne
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jan 11, 1955 Wide
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

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Cast

            Richard Burton as Edwin Booth

            Maggie McNamara as Mary Devlin

            John Derek as John Wilkes Booth

            Raymond Massey as Junius Brutus Booth

            Charles Bickford as Dave Prescott

            Elizabeth Sellars as Asia

            Christopher C. Cook as Edwin Booth at age 10

            Dayton Lummis as English Doctor

            Ian Keith as "King" in Hamlet

            Paul Stader as Laertes

            Louis Alexander as John Booth at age 12

            William Walker as Old Ben

            Charles Cane as Theater Assistant

            Mae Marsh as Witch in Macbeth

            Stanley Hall as Abraham Lincoln

            Sarah Padden as Mrs. Abraham Lincoln

            Ruth Clifford as English Nurse

            Ivan Hayes as Bernardo

            Paul H. Frees as Francisco

            Ben Wright as Horatio

            Melinda Markey as Young Lady

            Eleanor Audley as Mrs. Montchesington

            Percival Vivian as Polonius

            George Dunn as Doorman

            Ruth Warren as Nurse

            Richard H. Cutting as Doctor

            Lane Chandler as Colonel

            Steven Darrell as Maj. Rathbone

            Tom Fadden as Trenchard

            Henry Kulky as Bartender

            Olan Soule as Catesby

            Eva Le Gallienne as The Queen

            Jack Raine as Theater Manager
See full cast

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