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	...	Banning Cocq
Roger Livesey	...	Beggar Saul
John Bryning	...	Titus
Sam Livesey	...	Auctioneer
Herbert Lomas	...	Gerrit van Rijn - Rembrandt's Father
Allan Jeayes	...	Doctor Tulp
John Clements	...	Flinck
Raymond Huntley	...	Ludwick
Abraham Sofaer	...	Menasseh
Lawrence Hanray	...	Heertsbeeke
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:

female jealousy | manipulative female | possessive female | romantic rivalry | romantic relationship | 

---

Taglines:

Beautiful Women...saints and sinners, tender and tempestuous...feeding the fires of his genius with reckless abandon! Eager to share his exciting life...his intense love...even the wrath of men who cried: "Shame!"

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Büyük Ates-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 Noiseless Wide Range Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was included in the first syndicated television presentation of a package of major studio feature films on USA television; it premiered in Baltimore Friday 6 August 1948 on WMAR (Channel 2), followed by Philadelphia Friday 13 August 1948 on WFIL (Channel 6), by Boston Sunday 22 August 1948 on WBZ (Channel 4), by Chicago Monday 30 August 1948 on WGN (Channel 9), by Los Angeles Tuesday 7 September 1948 on KTLA (Channel 5), by Cleveland Sunday 19 September 1948 on WEWS (Channel 5), by Salt Lake City Sunday 10 October 1948 on KDYL (Channel 4), by New York City Friday November 5, 1948 on WPIX (Channel 11), by Atlanta Wednesday 26 January 1949 on WSB (Channel 8) and by Dayton Monday 23 May 1949 on WHIO (Channel 13). The package consisted of 24 Alexander Korda productions originally released theatrically between 1933 and 1942.

---

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: [to Hendrickje] You musn't be frightened if I look at you. I'm not looking at you as a... man looks. I'm a painter... painters have a different way of looking at things, you - you must imagine that I'm looking at you in the same way as the water with which you wash yourself or the air you move in or the light that shines on you.

---

Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: In the seventeenth century Holland was a world power, her ships carried treasure to Amsterdam from all parts of the earth. But her proudest glory was the son of a miller from Leyden, Rembrandt Van Rijn, the greatest painter that has ever lived. He died in obscurity, his belongings no more than a few shillings.

Today no millionaire is worth the money the works of Rembrandt would realise, if ever offered for sale.

---

Connections

Featured in Brows Held High: Nightwatching/Rembrandt's J'Accuse (2013)

User Reviews

brilliant performance by Charles Laughton

Charles Laughton is "Rembrandt" in this 1936 film he made for Alexander Korda, one of three films he made in England during this time.

The story takes us through Rembrandt's sad life, and manages at the same time to leave out a lot of sadness. The film shows his son Titus, but there were several other children who did not survive. The great tragedy of Rembrandt's life was the death of his wife Saskia, whom he painted often. Rembrandt was also known for asking Jews to pose for his Old Testament paintings, which are informed by his knowledge of the Bible.

There were two other women in Rembrandt's life: his common-law wife Hendrickje Stoffels (Elsa Lanchester) and his housekeeper, Geertje Dirx (Gertrude Lawrence) who evidently became his lover. She later sued Rembrandt for breach of promise, and he had to pay her 200 guilders a month. For years he tried to get her committed.

Rembrandt is shown falling into poverty here. When his fortunes dimmed as an artist, he continued to work as a teacher. Bad investments were the main cause of his problems. In truth, his paintings remained popular throughout his lifetime, and the one for which he is chastised in the film actually was a huge hit.

Laughton portrays Rembrandt as a man of tremendous artistic integrity, a learned man with soul, heart, and a great feeling for language. Indeed, Laughton's monologues are absolutely beautiful; had he read the phone book, I would have been just as enraptured. Elsa Lanchester is very young here, all eyes, and gives a very sweet performance as the frail Hendrickje. Gertrude Lawrence is an absolute spitfire as Geertje.

Wonderful film. Don't miss this breathtaking Laughton performance.