Rembrandt (1936 film)

Rembrandt
DVD Cover
Directed by	Alexander Korda
Written by	June Head Lajos Bíró Arthur Wimperis
Produced by	Alexander Korda
Starring	Charles Laughton Gertrude Lawrence Elsa Lanchester Edward Chapman
Cinematography	Georges Périnal
Edited by	Francis D. Lyon William Hornbeck (sup)
Music by	Geoffrey Toye
Production company	London Film Productions
Distributed by	London Film Productions (US) United Artists (UK)
Release dates	6 November 1936 (UK) 25 December 1936 (US)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Rembrandt is a 1936 British biographical film made by London Film Productions of the life of 17th-century Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. The film was produced and directed by Alexander Korda from a screenplay by June Head and Lajos Bíró based on a story by Carl Zuckmayer. The music score was by Geoffrey Toye and the cinematography by Georges Périnal.

Cast

• Charles Laughton as Rembrandt van Rijn
• Gertrude Lawrence as Geertje Dircx
• Elsa Lanchester as Hendrickje Stoffels
• Edward Chapman as Carel Fabritius
• Walter Hudd as Frans Banning Cocq
• Roger Livesey as Beggar Saul
• John Bryning as Titus van Rijn
• Sam Livesey as Auctioneer
• Herbert Lomas as Gerrit van Rijn
• Allan Jeayes as Dr. Tulp
• John Clements as Govert Flinck
• Raymond Huntley as Ludwick
• Abraham Sofaer as Dr. Menasseh
• Laurence Hanray as Heertsbeeke
• Austin Trevor as Marquis de Grand-Coeur
• Edmund Willard as Van Zeeland
• Leonard Sharp as Burgher at Auction
• Marius Goring as Baron Leivens (uncredited)
• Alexander Knox as Ludwick's Assistant (uncredited)
• Hay Petrie as Jeweller (uncredited)

Production

Alexander Korda had previously worked with Laughton on the critically successful The Private Life of Henry VIII. Laughton's wife, Elsa Lanchester, has a role in the film as Hendrickje, Rembrandt's maid who also became his lover.

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote, "Charles Laughton and Alexander Korda have produced a great, and rich, and glowing motion picture in "Rembrandt," which opened yesterday at the Rivoli, a picture signed all over with distinction, like one of the master's own canvases"; while more recently, Time Out wrote that the film was "Less successful at the time than the earlier Private Life of Henry VIII, but a far better film, thanks to a subtle, touching performance from Laughton as the ageing painter...Surprisingly sombre, it lacks a tight plot, but appeals through its vivid characterisation, superb Vincent Korda sets, and Georges Périnal's lovely camerawork."

Writing for The Spectator in 1936, Graham Greene gave the film a poor review, describing it as "a series of unrelated tableaux". Greene found that "the film is ruined by lack of story ['line'] and continuity [...] [which is the] drive of a well-constructed plot". Greene gave some praise for the acting of Laughton and Lanchester, but condemned the direction stating "I have called the film reverent, but pompous, I fear, would be nearer the mark."

References

Bibliography

• Jerry Vermilye The Great British Films, Citadel Press, 1978, pp 32–35 ISBN 0-8065-0661-X

External links

• Rembrandt at IMDb
• Rembrandt at AllMovie
• Rembrandt at the TCM Movie Database
• Rembrandt at the American Film Institute Catalog
• Rembrandt at the BFI's Screenonline
• Rembrandt is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive