Judge, 1919-06-28 · page 25 of 37
Judge — June 28, 1919 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reviews a theatrical production titled "The Jest," featuring actors John Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore. The melodrama is set in Florence and concerns two male characters—Giannetto (the physically weak but clever protagonist) and Neri (a brutish bully)—competing for Gineora, a fishmonger's daughter. The satire mocks the plot's contrived morality: despite Neri's initial bullying advantage, Giannetto ultimately triumphs through cunning rather than strength. The caption's ironic tone ("Be careful how you bully a man of designs") suggests Judge magazine found the tale's revenge narrative both predictable and overwrought—typical melodramatic fare where intellectual schemes defeat brute force. The production appears designed to showcase the famous Barrymore brothers in a swashbuckling period piece, though the magazine treats it with genteel mockery.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
John Barry- more as Maude Hanaford, as Gineora, the fishmonger’s daughter. How the Florentines must have looked for- ward to Friday! Brains’ revenge on bullying brawn. Jeri, izing swashbuckler of old cks on Gianne. sifted but physically puny pain trucu- lently carries off his sweetheart and, little joke,” beats him and pitches him into the river. But in the end Giannetto gets more than even. Be careful how you bully a man of designs. Photos by Sune 25 Lionel Barrymore, as Neri