Original Watercolor Portrait of John Barrymore as “August Topaz e” from the film “Topaze”, inscribed by Barrymore to Assist ant Director Sam Ruman. by [Autograph] John Barrymore -- and artist Newt Jons - 1933

Near fine. 1933. Inscribed by actor John Barrymore . 9”x11-1/2” . s] costume designer for the 1933 film Alice in Wonderland and mak eup artist for another two dozen films and television series, inc luding From Here to Eternity, Around the World in Eighty Days, an d No Time for Sergeants. ##### . arring Barrymore and Myrna Loy. Based on the play by Marcel Pagno l and adapted by Benn Levy and the great Ben Hecht, Barrymore pla ys Professor Auguste Topaze, an honest and naive schoolteacher ge ts a lesson in how the world works outside the classroom when a r ich Baron and his mistress [Loy] use his name and outstanding rep utation in a crooked business scheme -- bottled water with purpor tedly curative properties. Unaware that "Sparkling Topaze" does n ot actually contain the medicinal formula he invented, Topaze is stunned when an associate of the Baron threatens to expose the fr audulent scheme. His naivete destroyed, Topaze fights back by bec oming even more corrupt than his mentor and succeeds in blackmail ing the Baron into a partnership. In the meantime, Topaze steals the romantic attentions of Coco and is last seen escorting her i nto the cinema. Topaze was the first RKO film to play Radio City Music Hall and won the 1933 National Board of Review Award for Be st Film. . rector on the film [uncredited]. Ruman worked on nearly fifty fil ms, including Mighty Joe Young, Stagecoach Kid, and Zombies on Br oadway. The inscription reads: “To Sammy Ruman / Life-Saver, De mon of Efficiency & President of the Regular Guys Society -- from his grateful friend - John Barrymore.” Artist Newt Jons is not listed in the film’s credits. . te of Sam Ruman, via his daughter Joan Perkal. . closely trimmed margins with some discoloration to the trimmed e dges, not affecting the image. Otherwise fine. .