WORLD OF MONSTERS: CLAUDE RAINS

Showing posts with label CLAUDE RAINS. Show all posts

Thursday, April 24, 2025

CLAUDE RAINS PORTRAITS BY ROMAN FREULICH

Hollywood studio photography has always fascinated me. A select few -- and really remarkable -- photographers were tasked with immortalizing film stars. The light, the shadow, and the subject's expression are all key elements in what makes these images so great. What is also amazing is that when you expand the image, many of them ares so sharp you can even see the pores of their skin.

This was all accomplished decades before digital photography, when the 35mm camera reigned supreme in the hands (and eyes) of studio photographers. One such expert was Roman Freulich, who worked with his older brother Jack at Universal Studios for a number of years. Together they produced some of the most iconic images of the classic film era.

Shown below are portraits of Claude Rains by Roman Freulich. The first three are from THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (1935). Rains was 45-years-old when he starred in the film. A number of other familiar Universal horror film actors appeared in it as well: David Manners, Valerie Hobson, E.E. Clive and bit parts by Harry Cording, Anne Darling and Carla Laemmle, just a few years after her appearance in the opening coach scene in DRACULA.

The last photo is believed to be Rains in THE MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD (1934).

Saturday, December 28, 2024

THE (1943) PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Let me begin by saying that the 1943 version of Universal's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is not one of my favorite horror films. My opinion is shared by any number of horror film critics as well, so I'm not standing on my own on a desert island.

One sheet poster - Style C.

Boasting "a cast of thousands", it premiered on August 12, 1943. First announced in November 1941, production didn't begin until January 21, 1942, Universal originally wanted to cast the popular Deanna Durbin in the role of Christine, but she declined. Director Henry Koster followed suit. Finally, U signed the 18 year-old Susanna Foster who would play opposite leading man Nelson Eddy.

Directed by the very competent Arthur Lubin, it is shot in technicolor and is visually sumptuous. As a result, if you're looking for a decent romantic musical this could be your cup of tea. As a horror film, it can be called barely that. Universal had planned to remake Lon Chaney's film as far back as the 1930's but the idea was shelved when the Laemmle's sold the company in 1936.

Fresh off filming Casablanca, Claude Rains (who was quite difficult on the set according to Lubin) is woefully miscast. U had been after Charles Laughton to play the role and when he backed out they even considered handing it to Broderick Crawford (!). The original Phantom's son, Lon Chaney Jr. was not in the running; the best he could do was visit the set while it was being filmed (see photos below).

One sheet poster - Style D.

Rains was billed third below Eddy and Foster and it only reinforces U's idea to sell it as a romantic musical rather than a horror picture.

The 1925 opera house set was appropriated and re-dressed to better exploit the Technicolor film stock. The original chandelier was also brought out of mothballs; it had been damaged in the first film, so fine Czech crystal was brought in to repair it. During the scene where Raines' Phantom cuts the chandelier so it will fall on top of the audience, the shot was cut away and the chandelier was placed on the floor with the crystals detached so that it appeared to have shattered.

Makeup man Jack Pierce had to resort to a minimal makeup job on Rains who, much like Henry Hull in his role as the Werewolf of London, felt he was too self-important to have his famous face made up into a monster.

Despite the disappointment of this remake not even coming close to Chaney's version, it did quite well at the box office, even garnering five Oscar nominations, winning Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Color.

LOBBY CARDS