The Silver Screen Oasis

moira, I've never seen Claude Rains look so good as in that SONS OF LIBERTY photo.

Bronxgirl48 wrote:moira, I've never seen Claude Rains look so good as in that SONS OF LIBERTY photo.

I think that being a hero rather than a rascal for once brought out something very handsome in Mr. R. But then, I think he's very alluring, even when he plays a villain--and especially when his villains make me laugh (see his very fey King John in The Adventures of Robin Hood and his operatic Alexander Hollenius in Deception for some sterling examples).

I like Holenius. I think he's actually kind of sexy there. I don't know why.

I watched Sons of Liberty just because you described it, Moira. The production values were incredible... I wouldn't be surprised if they were planning to make a full scale movie out of it. The whole thing deflated when it wasn't concentrating on Rains. When his character wasn't doing something, it just lost it's verve. And I have a hard time picturing Gale Sondergaard suffering through the cold harsh winters back in 1776...

OK. I can admit it when I'm wrong.

I watched THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC last night, and I don't know what was wrong with me last time I watched it since I hated it then. Well.... it was brilliant. I can't even imagine how they filmed this movie, it's stunning, almost wordless (except for a few titles and a lot of hot air from the clergy), just Falconetti's amazing reactions. The thing that is so strange about the film is how modern it still looks. Thank God they found a copy of this masterpiece.

I have to admit I do have a slight flutter in my heart for some of Claude's more cynical, moustached rogues such as Captain Renault in CASABLANCA. But when I first saw him, so young and clean-shaven, on his deathbed in THE INVISIBLE MAN, I thought he was adorable, like a cute little froggy, lol. Unfortunately as he got older his looks evolved into something more toad-like, much the same as Franchot Tone who became less turtle and more tortoise. I don't like Claude's Samuel S. Hinds look with the wavy silver hair.

BronxGirl, your descriptions of the facial evolutions of Claude and Franchot gave me my laugh of Christmas Eve - not just funny, but as you think about it, accurate. It's like how James Cagney resembled a walrus later in life (especially in RAGTIME).

My wife always cracks me up whenever we see Don Rickles. She says he always reminded her of a foot.

Bronxie,
I do not see Claude as a froggie, but Franchot Tone always made me think of Jiminy Cricket. Separated at birth or did Franchot inspire the artists at Disney?

By Jiminy, Moira, I can see that.

Thanks Western Guy.

Decorum prevents me from stating just what Don Rickles' head really looks like to me.

!http://authorhive.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/frog2.jpg!

!http://www.nndb.com/people/631/000043502/rains9.jpg!


I've never thought of Claude as anything other than a frog.

Fred Astaire looks like Jiminy Cricket to me, but I can also see Franchot.

!http://images.wikia.com/disney/images/a ... ricket.jpg!

!http://www.biography.com/imported/image ... -2-402.jpg!

Western Guy, you're right, Jimmy Cagney does look like a walrus in RAGTIME

I wish I could post comparisons, but, as moira all too painfully knows, for some
reason I'm having the devil of a time uploading photos here.

Okay Bronxgirl, I'll let my sordid imagination fill in the missing piece regarding your take on Rickles' noggin.

. . . And I don't like where it's taking me.

LOL