John Barrymore came from a long line of theater actors. He himself first appeared on stage alongside his father in 1900, and in 1903 officially began his career, starring in the likes of Justice (1916) and Richard III (1920). His greatest role was his 1992 appearance in Hamlet, for which he was dubbed “the greatest living American tragedian.”
Barrymore also starred in a slew of silent films, most notably Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920), Sherlock Holmes (1922) and Beau Brummel (1924). He later made the transition to sound movies, starring in the likes of Grand Hotel (1932) and Midnight (1939).
On May 29, 1942, Barrymore died at the age of 60 from pneumonia and cirrhosis. What happened next has been the subject of many rumors. It’s alleged his friends, Errol Flynn, W.C. Fields and Sadakichi Hartmann snuck into the morgue where his body was being held, propped him up against a poker table and allowed him to experience one final celebration.
As it turns out, these rumors are true! In an August 2020 episode of the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, the acting legend’s granddaughter, Drew Barrymore, revealed his corpse had actually been stolen.
“Not only yes, but there have been cinematic interpretations of it,” she exclaimed. Those interpretations include S.O.B., starring Julie Andrews, and allegedly the 1989 comedy Weekend at Bernie’s, in which two friends pretend their deceased boss is alive.
Barrymore added that she wants the same to happen to her. “I will say this, I hope my friends do the same for me. That is the kind of spirit I can get behind. Just prop the old bag up, let’s have a few rounds.
“I think death comes with so much morose sadness and I understand that, but if it’s okay, just for me, if everybody could be really happy and celebratory and have a party, that would be my preference.”
Vintage Hollywood certainly was a different era…
Doctor explains why you should never kiss a deceased person
Recently, a Moldovan physician gained widespread attention for his unusual yet stern film regarding kissing. Furthermore, it defies expectations.
Dr. Viktor Ivanovik, who has almost 300,000 TikTok subscribers, discusses the health hazards associated with saying goodbye to a loved one who has passed away.
Ivanovik cautions viewers in the video, saying, “Never kiss the deceased!”
He says the body starts to break down about nine hours after death, releasing dangerous microorganisms. According to Ivanovik, kissing the dead could expose you to these microorganisms and cause you to lose your sense of smell.
Online comments have been flowing in response to his video.
Many viewers had never thought about the possible dangers of coming into contact with microorganisms before. Some, though, talked about their own experiences.
“I kissed my father and would do it a million times over,” an emotional spectator said. He’s my dad, so I can lose my sense of taste and smell!”
The advice from Dr. Ivanovik demonstrates the need for a careful balance between cultural customs and health considerations. Unaware of the risks, many people perform these rites as a last gesture of respect and closure for their loved ones.
However, for a lot of people, the ease of saying farewell to a loved one in person exceeds any potential health risks. This opens up a larger discussion about the importance of cultural sensitivity when dealing with these subjects, especially when there are enduring customs at stake.
Ivanovik’s TikTok video has sparked a fresh conversation on social media, urging users to recognize the intensely intimate nature of farewells while simultaneously being aware of the possible hazards.
Dr. Ivanovik has increased awareness of the significance of comprehending health hazards related to everyday habits through his movie, demonstrating that safety and health should never be disregarded, even in times of loss and sadness.
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