Korda/Laughton impress with landmark British Production Rembrandt

Alexander Korda's Rembrandt from 1936, (which is featured in the Korda Directed Private Lives series (available in box set form from Criterion) caught the great thespian Laughton in particular rare form as the film is one of the best depictions of the art and life of not only a great painter (but, as it demonstrates), a great man.

The film is successful cinema because the script (by Carl Zuckmayer, from a story by June Head) makes Rembrandt verbal artfulness and charisma as captivating as his visual skills. The early part of the film focuses on the death of his wife, Saskia; no Stoffels. Laughton's allure and fascninating presence are in every frame of the film whether recounting the tale off King Saul or enoying the pleasures of a pickled fish. There are few actors like Laughton today (oddly enough, Rusell Crowe is one of Laughton's spiritual decadents) and these films help remind the viewer what an odd, attractive and interesting presence he was. Indeed, these British films capture Laughton at a weird moment in his career when he was close to being a leading man. As you probably know, this was for but a moment...