Rembrandt (1936)

Following the death of his wife, the celebrated painter Rembrandt (Charles Laughton) finds his life plagued with personal tragedy and financial hardship until he meets a young maid (Elsa Lanchester) who brings love into his life again. Yet another life of an artist crammed into a short span, in this case 90 minutes. As directed by Alexander Korda, the film doesn't spend any time on Rembrandt's art or what drove his art. What we get is the usual "they don't understand him!" along with his romantic life. Fortunately, what we do get is Charles Laughton who brings an enormous amount of empathy to his role. We also get Gertrude Lawrence in a rare film role but the film makers don't extend any empathy toward her and I felt they treated her character shabbily as she was a decent woman trying to do the best she could. Lanchester is touching and one forgets how lovely she was early in her career. Georges Perinal's (LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP) lensing gives the B&W film a painterly sheen. With John Bryning, Roger Livesey and Abraham Sofaer.