In “Barrymore,” 83-year-old stage and screen legend Christopher Plummer portrays another titan of theater and film from an earlier age, the illustrious — and notorious — John Barrymore. This acclaimed film adaptation of William Luce’s 1997 play is set in 1942 during the final months of Barrymore’s life. On the stage of a Broadway theater, the famously combative star struggles to recreate his performance in Shakespeare’s Richard III, recalling the highs and lows of his remarkable life and career in the process.
Great Performances "Barrymore" airs on Friday, January 31st at 9:00 p.m.