Rembrandt (1936) Director: Alexander Korda
“What is success? A soldier can reckon his success in victories, a merchant in money.
But my world is insubstantial. I live in a beautiful, blinding, swirling mist.”
★★★☆☆
In Alexander Korda’s fictionalized biopic Rembrandt, Charles Laughton plays the great Flemish painter at the zenith of his success. Korda and Laughton had previously worked together on The Private Life of Henry VIII in 1933 and they sought to recreate its success, however Rembrandt was troubled by onset frustrations as Gertrude Lawrence demanded much of Korda’s attention while Laughton often felt neglected. Rembrandt is a kind of tragedy. It begins with Rembrandt vin Rijn at the height of his success and power. He is respected and honored everywhere he goes (Rembrandt’s wife is played by Laughton’s wife Elsa Lanchester; she also previously played Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife, opposite Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII). But as the film progresses, Rembrandt descends into obscurity, loneliness, and despair. At the close of the film he goes out for a drink with a group of youngsters who mistake him for a random elderly man.
Ultimately, Rembrandt leaves much to be desired in my opinion. The plot wavers and has little at stake. Its only saving grace are the magnificent sets and the brilliant acting of Charles Laughton.
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Credits
- Directed by: Alexander Korda
- Written by: June Head, Lajos Bíró, and Arthur Wimperis
- Based on: a story by Carl Zuckmayer
- Produced by: Alexander Korda
- Starring:
- Charles Laughton…..Rembrandt van Rijn
- Gertrude Lawrence…..Geertje Dircx
- Elsa Lanchester…..Hendrickje Stoffels
- Edward Chapman…..Carel Fabritius
- Cinematography: Georges Périnal
- Edited by: Francis D. Lyon and William Hornbeck
- Music by: Geoffrey Toye
- Production Company: London Film Productions
- Distributed by: United Artists