Rembrandt (1936)

This character study joins the painter at the height of his fame in 1642, when his adored wife suddenly dies and his work takes a dark, sardonic turn that offends his patrons. By 1656, he ... See full summary »

Director:

Alexander Korda

Writers:

Carl Zuckmayer (film play), June Head (scenario),

Stars:

Charles Laughton, Gertrude Lawrence, Elsa Lanchester

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Laughton	...	Rembrandt van Rijn
Gertrude Lawrence	...	Geertje Dirx
Elsa Lanchester	...	Hendrickje Stoffels
Edward Chapman	...	Fabrizius
Walter Hudd	...	Capt. Banning Cocq
Roger Livesey	...	Beggar Saul
John Bryning	...	Titus van Rijn
Sam Livesey	...	Auctioneer
Herbert Lomas	...	Harmenzs van Rijn
Allan Jeayes	...	Dr. Tulp
John Clements	...	Govaert Flinck
Raymond Huntley	...	Ludwick
Abraham Sofaer	...	Dr. Menasseh
Laurence Hanray	...	Heertsbeeke (as Lawrence Hanray)
Austin Trevor	...	Marquis de Grand-Coeur

Storyline

This character study joins the painter at the height of his fame in 1642, when his adored wife suddenly dies and his work takes a dark, sardonic turn that offends his patrons. By 1656, he is bankrupt but consoles himself with the company of pretty maid Hendrickje, whom he's unable to marry. Their relationship brings ostracism but also some measure of happiness. The final scenes find him in his last year, 1669, physically enfeebled but his spirit undimmed.

---

Plot Keywords:

maid | painter | artist | 1600s | widower | 

---

Taglines:

He knew all women! Their lives...Loves...Their souls!

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

I zoi tou Rembrandt

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Rembrandt reveals the newly completed painting, 'The Night Watch', we see not the full, original version that he in fact painted, but the drastically butchered version that was made over 40 years after his death, when the painting was moved from its original exhibition space in the Kloveniersdoelen to a less capacious display space in the Amsterdam Town Hall in 1715.

---

Quotes

Rembrandt van Rijn: And of a sudden he knew that when one woman gives herself to you, you possess all women. Women of every age and race and kind, and more than that, the moon, the stars, all miracles and legends are yours. Brown-skinned girls who inflame your senses with their play, cool yellow-haired women who entice and escape you, gentle ones who serve you, slender ones who torment you, the mothers who bore and suckled you; all women whom God created out of the teeming fullness of the earth, are yours in the ...

---

Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #26.79 (2009)

User Reviews

Truly wonderful

Why *can't* they make films like this anymore? Today, a film has to be the best part of three hours long and packed with special effects. In this film we see the story of a man's life told in half that time, made at a studio outside London. (Having said that, it was a box-office failure, presumably the audiences who shunned this flocked to see Clark Gable in 'San Francisco'.)

Charles Laughton's performance is truly great, portraying Rembrandt's vision and artistic integrity (which appears as perverse stubbornness to his fellow citizens), and his deep humanity. His speeches at the inn which mirror each other at the beginning and end of the film, on the glory of perfect love and the vanity of human life, are so beautifully delivered I almost held my breath so as not to miss a word.

More than that, the film succeeds in recreating Rembrandt's world. We see the business-like merchants, self-important local politicians and hard-living peasants who made up Dutch society in the 1600's. One of the most moving passages of the film shows Rembrandt trying to return to his home. He is physically unsuited to his father's work and derided by the villagers. He returns to Amsterdam realising he can't fit in with the merchant-class or the peasant-class where he was raised - he is a man alone.

The supporting cast is noteworthy, including Elsa Lanchester (Mrs Laughton, of course) as Rembrandt's last love, Gertrude Lawrence (although I'm still not sure why audiences seemed to fall in love with her, maybe her histrionics were more suited to theatre) and a large crop of Liveseys (Roger, Jack, Sam - I'm sure there were others).