Rembrandt

Charles Laughton's heartfelt performance as the famed Dutch painter, Rembrandt, highlights this stylish biography, produced by Alexander Korda. Laughton's real-life wife, Elsa Lancaster, and Charles work together beautifully, and the film boasts a performance by the legendary stage actress, Gertrude Lawrence. One can see that Laughton really loved this role, and gave it his all. Certainly this is one of the more successful artist bios on film.

This was a superbly acted movie. I happened across it on TCM and was instantly sucked in. The dialogue was written very well and beautifully portrayed by all of the actors. This is not a typical movie from 1936 with over the top deliveries from the talent. I just can't say enough about it.

Additionally, it was shot very nicely. Keep in mind that this is a very old movie, but the black and white photography is put together in an almost Rembrandt way.

If you haven't seen Rembrandt then go and get it. You won't be disappointed. Well done!

"Pictures must not be too picturesque" (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

Alexander Korda, the founder of London Films, appears to be an altogether intriguing personality in cinema history. Brian Eggert in his Deep Focus review nicely observes that he frames his characters "in a way that personalizes the drama, seeing them as people and not dry historical figures." How beautifully this notion occurs to manifest itself in this picture. His REMBRANDT is a movie which is far from any biographical approach but rather stands out as an insight into an artist tormented by conflict between the gravity of 'properly social' requirements and the eagle's wings of inspirations - a genius whose life and work are far from 'too picturesque' traditionalized sweetness. Therefore, Emerson's quote, which I entailed at the beginning of my review, seems to correspond to that development which we find in this barely 'ornamented' 80 minute-long film.

The fact that Korda's movie boasts of many charming moments, beautiful camera shots, dazzling costumes and stunning cinematography remains pretty indisputable. Although the recreation of the Amsterdam of the time does not occur to be fully satisfactory due to certain lacks of possibilities at hand, the interiors make for artistic impressions. The cinematographer Georges Perinal powerfully employs his efforts to combine visual with overtones (consider Rembrandt's indicative love scene with his wife to come, the shadows, the name of his desire written on the table and the ever present storm that sets the tone for the sensually typical moments on the screen). But it is not where the film's triumph really lies.

When seeing the film nowadays, it seems that we are watching quite a modern approach to the 'interpretations' of an artistic personality. The movie, as I have mentioned before, does not focus on descriptive approach of Rembrandt's paintings but rather on the protagonist who speaks his mind, shares what lies deep down his heart. In this way, it's not just like "I am going to present to you a life of an artist" but he invites a viewer for a fruitful discourse of perceptions. Of course we could quarrel here to what extent it is the historical Rembrandt. Ignoring some cinematic liberties taken with the genial leading hero of art, we are at least supplied with a vibrant, vital, engrossing image of a man who grows in both skill and thought. Isn't that what many of us long for in movies?

Apart from flawlessly delivered biblical verses corresponding to his life experience, Rembrandt (Charles Laughton) shares with us his thoughts about life, women, social status, success, his vision of the 'caged' world. His inner dictates allow him to reveal himself, his struggles between vision and reality, 'women' and 'wives,' conventions and Love. As the movie skips all glorification, all baseless idealization or illusionary assumptions, we may 'properly' talk about the movie in terms of Korda's revolutionary approach along with Laughton's revelatory portrayal that deeply focus on the humanity of character. This 'humanization' refers to many scenes from the frequently discussed rejection of THE NIGHT WATCH when Rembrandt powerfully makes it clear to everybody that he wanted to 'paint men. Soldiers. Company marching out' instead of glorified 'gentlemen of rank and position' through his encounter with one of his 'lowest of the low' subjects of painting, a beggar (played by Roger Livesey) along with the lesson both learn from each other, Rembrandt's visit at his hometown Leyden where he aims at recognizing his sense of belonging and hopes to restore his sense of attachment... Concluding from the turmoil, an artist belongs nowhere but his inner individualized existence.

In one scene, Rembrandt says: "Every man is a destined path." Nowhere does it appear as clear as in his relation to WOMEN. He seems to be in love with his wife Saskia (whom we actually never see on screen) but as soon as we appreciate the witty verses in a skillful game of words, funeral chimes toll over the windowed husband mourning and grief. In one moment when he tries to forget the sorrows, he spills the beans about the inner desires (I need a woman I can call my wife) and, unreasonably, gets married to his housekeeper Geertje Dirx (Gertrude Lawrence). However, she symbolizes all that is 'material' and 'down-to-earth' in a subtle man's perception of a woman. "Use your common sense" seems to be the slogan that does not only takes hold of her but which also interrupts the artist's great moment of inspiration. As a cure comes a young and beautiful Hendrickje Stoffels. Strikingly similar in looks to the artist's wife, she inflames jealousy within the envious woman and the Sanhedrin-like assembly of accusers. Within the moral and financial hazards, the love of the two does not find obstacles serious enough to spoil their feelings.

ELSA AND CHARLES supply the movie solely with power scenes of unique chemistry. Brian Eggert memorably points out that "Laughton's busy hands and eyes create an observant, thoughtful character" being "bold yet timid and modest, as only a poor but gifted genius could be." However, he shines fully at Elsa's side Their most unforgettable scene shows them 'recreate' their first meeting when he looks at her as both and artist and a man. With its height of emotions within 'from the inside out' method, derived from Stanislavskyan school, the moment beautifully addresses human longing for the possibility to experience the happiest moments of life once again. Yet, at the same time, it draws parallels with an intriguing assumption that true love is the only source of happiness in anyone's life.

A highly worth seeing movie about a man whose was a destined path and yet a man whose modest approach derived from Solomon's words of wisdom have resulted in transcending portraits that still personify absorbing developments of artists tormented by storms yet touched by the grace of talent...and inspiration growing in a ray of enlightenment.

Charles Laughton returned to his native Great Britain in 1936 for three years and made a series of films there. The first and best of these was for Alexander Korda about Rembrandt Van Rijn, arguably the greatest of all Dutch painters.

Later biographical pictures, Lust for Life about Van Gogh and Moulin Rouge about Toulouse-Lautrec had good location photography going for them. Alexander Korda did create some nice sets to depict the Netherlands of the 17th century, but it just isn't the same.

Another difference between Rembrandt and the other two later pictures is while Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec died young, Rembrandt lived to be an old man by the standards of his century. The film takes us on a forty year journey of his life from the death of his first wife until just before he dies. Laughton is great at capturing Rembrandt at every stage of his life.

As compared to those other two 19th century artists, Rembrandt's life was also not the tormented one the others had. Rembrandt is not a deformed cripple like Toulouse-Lautrec nor is he dealing with the onset of mental illness like Van Gogh. Tragedy happens in his life, but the tragedy isn't out of his own character.

Like the other two Rembrandt was constantly plagued with money problems. That's actually what takes up most of the film, the compromises he makes with his artistic vision and the need he has to put bread on the table.

Gertrude Lawrence and Elsa Lanchester do fine as the two women in his life. Laughton and Lawrence did not get along during the making of Rembrandt, that may have helped give their scenes some real bite. Three members of the performing Livesey family are in this film and Roger Livesey is a standout as the beggar who Rembrandt uses to paint his portrait of King Saul from the Old Testament.

Rembrandt is a finely crafted piece of film making and Charles Laughton gives one of his best screen performances. I wish though it had been done on location the way Lust for Life and Moulin Rouge were.

Truly wonderful and worth all the plaudits piled on this film after sixty-odd years. Laughton was arguably never better than in this role and has able support from Elsa Lanchester, Gertrude Lawrence (fascinating to see her and she made few films and they are rarely seen nowadays), the Livesey clan etc etc. A film of atmosphere, of clarity, and of soul, like a Rembrandt painting in fact. Marvellous.