One of the greatest film actors of all time, Claude Rains has played roles in such films as Kings Row, Casablanca, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, and Phantom of the Opera.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
The film was directed by Frank Capra, who was a conservative Republican. He worked against President Roosevelt’s policies during the Great Depression. He also spoke out against labor disputes during the 1935-1939 period as Academy president. His films often focused on communities coming together to fight corruption.
Jefferson Smith (played by Jimmy Stewart) is an idealistic Boy Ranger leader who aspires to be a Senator in the United States. Initially, his appointment as a senator seems to be a blessing, but he soon becomes disillusioned by the political process.
He finds himself battling against corrupt politicians in the Senate. As he tries to stand up for justice, he finds that his benefactors are turning against him. They think that his patriotism is bunk.
The film also focuses on the power of democratic ideals. Smith’s unwavering belief in democracy is questioned by his secretary, Clarissa Saunders. She tries to convince him to write a bill that would prevent a crooked land deal.
In his quest to protect democracy, Jefferson Smith encounters a number of political obstacles. He is unable to defend himself when he is accused of trying to profit from the bill. Eventually, he loses a piece of his soul.
However, he does succeed in exposing the attempted graft. This leads to his own self-censure.
The film was awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Story. It was also nominated for Best Director, Actor, Music – Scoring, and Film Editing. The New York Times said the film “gives an image of legislative corruption”, while Democratic Sen. James F. Byrnes called for an official response.
In the end, it is the movie’s climax that wins over the audience. While the plot is rather cynical, the film shows the power of democracy to overcome evil.
Casablanca
Casablanca is a film that embodies the esoteric and awe-inspiring art of Hollywood. It is an enchanting tale of love, treachery and heroism. In the film, Humphrey Bogart plays a nightclub owner in Morocco.
The film, which was released on November 26, 1942, was produced and directed by Michael Curtiz. It was adapted from an unproduced play by Joan Alison.
Casablanca is a tale of love, intrigue and treachery. As Rick and Ilsa navigate their complicated relationship, they are confronted with their pasts.
Old Nick is one of the more memorable characters. He is a busy man who pays attention to the hood. His story is one of the most intriguing elements of the film.
The film reflects a time when millions of people were suffering through anxiety, terror and heroism. While the film is not naturalistic, it does provide an accurate depiction of the time.
Claude Rains is a great actor. He played many roles in classic films, including The Wolf Man, Notorious and Lawrence of Arabia.
This actor was born in London, England. He was married six times. His career spanned 46 years. Some of his notable roles include Mr. Dryden in Lawrence of Arabia, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Casablanca continues to be a movie that inspires audiences. Today, Warner Brothers made screenings of the film available through Turner Classic Movies.
Claude Rains is an actor with a distinctive voice. During his early career, he starred in many influential movies. He also won the Tony award for best leading actor in a play for his role in The Wolf Man.
Claude Rains received eight Oscar nominations, including for his performance in Casablanca. His other roles included title roles in The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Wolf Man.
Phantom of the Opera
Phantom of the Opera is a film adaptation of the classic story written by Gaston Leroux. It was released in 1943. The film was a box office success, and the only Universal movie to win an Oscar.
The story of the movie revolves around a young soprano named Christine Dubois. She works at the Paris Opera. Her colleagues begin to suspect that mysterious accidents are occurring at the opera house. This coincides with her meteoric rise to stardom. However, Christine does not realize that a secret admirer has been funding her singing lessons.
Christine is an understudy for the famous prima donna Mme. Biancarolli. When she begins to sing, the director puts her onstage in place of Biancarolli. He also plans to stop her from singing. Eventually, Christine chooses to pursue a career as a singer.
There is an elaborate set to the story, and the music is gorgeous. The score is based on Chopin themes. Edward Ward wrote the score. Also, the film features a piano concerto by Franz Liszt.
Although the movie is a bit heavy on the opera and melodrama, it is a pleasant movie to watch. And the performances are excellent. In fact, Claude Rains gives a very moving performance as the Phantom.
The movie was filmed in Technicolor, and it is the first Universal horror film to be released in this format. However, it had little in common with the original 1925 version.
For example, the original version of the story involved a masked ball, which was not filmed. Moreover, it featured disfigured musicians. Therefore, the remake was more freely adapted than the original.
Claude Rains was originally going to play the Phantom. But his availability was not as good as the studio hoped. His replacement was Basil Rathbone.
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
A boxer goes up against a corrupt financier and wins the gold medal. The story begins in New York City. His name is Joe Pendleton. He’s a hard-working, no-nonsense boxer who aspires to make it in the big leagues. Despite his success, he is in hot water with his old manager and his Aunt Lucy, who’s deceased.
While Joe’s manager tries to put the kibosh on his career, he’s swayed by his new pal, Corkle. It’s a good thing Joe is on the lookout.
What ensues is a rousing battle of the wills between the two. In the end, a boxer wins the day, but in a more conventional fashion. Jordan is also a boxer, but this time he’s been given a second chance at life.
The story of a mortal being sent back to life after being killed in a robbery has been told before, but Here Comes Mr. Jordan, based on the famous Harry Segall play of the same name, is not short on goofy one-liners. However, the film is not without its share of insights. For instance, when Corkle reveals to Joe that he’s a secret agent and has been hired to protect him, the detective thinks he’s a nutcase.
While the film is not as well known today as it once was, it has been resurrected from the dustbin of film history by The Criterion Collection. Not only is it restored, it’s also been re-released on Blu-ray for the first time. Some of the material used in its restoration was taken from the UCLA Film and Television Archives.
The film was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. It was also awarded the Academy Award for the Best Screenplay, the best screenplay award at the time. This was the same year that it took home the Best Actor award for Richard Gleason’s performance as Jordan.
