Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1982

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major Professor

Thomas P. Cooke

Committee Members

Albert J. Harris, Faye D. Julian

Abstract

"An Actor of Yesterday: A Critical Review of the Career of David Warfield” is a study which defines Warfield as a popular and talented actor during the first quarter of the twentieth century and which seeks to examine the question of how Warfield's development as an actor influenced his award of critical acclaim. It specifically traces Warfield, the actor, through the development of his performance as Anton von Barwig in The Music Master and of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, and by means of historically analyzing the critical reviews of these two productions, it shows how this popular star achieved a critical acclaim above which his talents could not carry him.

An Introduction presents the study in detail. It defines the problem, explains the methodology, reviews the source materials, and outlines each chapter.

The first chapter begins with a brief biography which establishes Warfield's roots and his unrefined talent in his native San Francisco, describes his struggle to become a top star in New York City, and focuses on his retirement years. A critical overview of the actor's career follows the biographical section, and it concludes with a statement addressing the actor's measure of critical acclaim.

The second chapter examines how Warfield's talents took hold of the public and critical eye. It focuses upon how he molded a flat character into a three-dimensional entity, how the critics and audiences marveled at this depth of characterization, and how the portrait seemed to grow from year to year. It then weighs these elements as to how they created for Warfield a critical and popular esteem rivaled only by Joseph Jefferson.

Chapter III examines Warfield's execution of the only role he ever assumed which was a true test of his talent. It explores the full measure of the actor's creation of Shylock and the effect his thoroughness had upon the performance. It considers the anticipation of the public and critics alike which heralded this Merchant of Venice, and it shows how that anticipation evolved into disappointment. And an epilogue which comprises Chapter IV takes a final look at the life and career of David Warfield, an actor of yesterday.

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