REMBRANDT was made at a time when CHARLES LAUGHTON returned to his native England to do some work there for Alexander Korda. It happens to be one of his best works, but the film itself does not do the artist justice. GERTRUDE LAWRENCE in one of her rare screen roles is fine, as is ELSA LANCHESTER as the woman he would eventually marry in the film and was already married to in real life--but the script never really paints a full enough picture of the artist's life.
Despite financial struggles, Rembrandt's life was not as colorful or full of tragic ironies as some of the other artists whose lives were depicted on screen and the screenwriter has not chosen to create any additional conflicts beyond the financial problems which plagued so many artists. Thus, his tale is told in a brief running time (by today's standards), no frills added. He died in obscurity, penniless--one of the world's greatest artists whose masterpieces are worth millions today.
The 17th Century detailed sets look authentic and were designed by Vincent Korda, but the story drags interminably through a number of vignettes which never paint a complete portrait of the artist. Just as interest is waning, ELSA LANCHESTER enters the picture and saves it from being completely dull.
Summing up: Interesting for history lovers or artists, but others beware. The story itself is simply not interesting enough.
Despite financial struggles, Rembrandt's life was not as colorful or full of tragic ironies as some of the other artists whose lives were depicted on screen and the screenwriter has not chosen to create any additional conflicts beyond the financial problems which plagued so many artists. Thus, his tale is told in a brief running time (by today's standards), no frills added. He died in obscurity, penniless--one of the world's greatest artists whose masterpieces are worth millions today.
The 17th Century detailed sets look authentic and were designed by Vincent Korda, but the story drags interminably through a number of vignettes which never paint a complete portrait of the artist. Just as interest is waning, ELSA LANCHESTER enters the picture and saves it from being completely dull.
Summing up: Interesting for history lovers or artists, but others beware. The story itself is simply not interesting enough.