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The Great Profile is a very odd movie, and for some people will be a somewhat uncomfortable viewing experience. As might be expected from this, Profile is likely to inspire differing reactions among different people. Many may find its roman a clef approach tabloid-sleazy, and may be totally incapable of watching it without feeling too sorry for (or possible disgusted with) John Barrymore. Others may take some blackhearted amusement in it for the same reason. But still others may be able to look past this and see a performance that is quite fascinating. Is Barrymore giving the world great acting here? By no means, but it's totally engrossing, the kind of performance that demands that the viewer keep his eyes on the star from start to finish. It has power, even if it lacks finesse. Interestingly, despite the fact that Barrymore dominates, he doesn't overpower the rest of the cast. Anne Baxter scores points, Gregory Ratoff does his kind-of-oily-but-kind-of-likeable thing well, and Mary Beth Hughes gets to land some diva blows of her own. The screenplay is nonsense, and Walter Lang's direction is merely serviceable. It's not a great setting for the faded star that is Barrymore, but he manages to give it his own peculiar glow anyway.