Comments on: Claude Rains: The Virtuoso

By: Madeleine

Madeleine — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:10:05 +0000

This blog is a better source of great Rains stories than any of his biographies. Belated thanks Moira, for starting it. I only wish I had discovered it earlier. I would love to ask Bridget for more of those inside stories from Bonita Granville.

By: Denise Holland

Denise Holland — Wed, 18 May 2011 20:41:31 +0000

I absolutely adore Claude Rains! For me he is one of the greatest actors that has ever lived! The world of cinema was graced by his presence. I know there will never be anyone that can compete with his genius. I so wish more of his early films would be more available, and that the ones that are would be re-mastered.

By: TCM's Classic Movie Blog

TCM's Classic Movie Blog — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:33:40 +0000

[...] birthday tribute on September 22nd – check out Angel on my Shoulder (1946) with Anne Baxter and Claude Rains or The Last Angry Man (1959), the actor’s sixth Oscar nominated performance and his final film [...]

By: TCM’s Movie Blog

TCM’s Movie Blog — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:11:18 +0000

[...] costly) Michael Rennie in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). Though the leading character actor Claude Rains was said to be Wise’s first casting choice for the beloved classic science fiction film, [...]

By: moira

moira — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:01:20 +0000

I'm continuously delighted to keep encountering fellow "Claudites" in the kind and informative replies to this entry about Mr. Rains. Thank you John of Ft. Meyers, Helen T., Jeff of Danbury (I'm hoping for a reissue of The Man Who Reclaimed His Head too), generous JoAnna (who I believe may be one of the co-authors of the great book about Mr. Rains mentioned under Sources above), and especially for your memories, Jim Reston & Ernie Weckbaugh. Ernie, are you aware that the film you appeared in, The Sons of Liberty (1939), the excellent, (and rather lavishly produced) short about a true life forgotten founding father, Haym Salomon, has been issued on dvd as part of the package with the Errol Flynn movie Dodge City (1939)? In the film, an imprisoned Claude Rains' recitation of the 23rd Psalm to a doomed Nathan Hale (Larry Williams) was particularly well done and reminded me of similarly effective moments in A Tale of Two Cities. Btw, you were a very cute little boy, as evidenced by the picture link you shared with us!Thanks again, everyone.

By: Jeff Thorson

Jeff Thorson — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:53:08 +0000

Thanks for some very interesting info on Claude Rains. I've been a fan for at least 25 years and my wife is an even bigger admirer. It's tough to get info about him off-set. Thanks to all for their contributions and to Moira for a great article. Now I hope they remaster Claude's other early films as they did to The Invisible Man. I'd like to see The Man Who Reclaimed his Head and Crimes w/o Passion remastered.My favorite Rains movie is The Man Who Reclaimed His Head, followed by Notorious.

By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:56:02 +0000

Very nice read, Moira! Well written and very informative. An excellent tribute article to our man Claude! Bravo!See you on the boards! JoAnna

By: Jim Reston

Jim Reston — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:25:56 +0000

Mr. Weckbaugh mentioned that Rains liked women to wait on him. This is fairly well known and Paul Henreid harped on this in many interviews. Though he agreed Rains was a brilliant talent, he resented that he always played helpless and attracted the attention of women in this manipulative way. At least Henreid thought it was manipulative, I always thought it smacked of jealousy. I worked on the set of Ironside (Raymond Burr)- in the 70's and Kim Hunter appeared a couple of times as a guest. She had starred with Rains in a play in the 50's – I don't recall the name. Burr spent much time asked her about Rains whom he admired, as most do. Hunter had said at that point in his life Rains was monogamous and devoted to his wife who attended rehearsals and was with him a lot. Earlier in his life, in Hollywood, the problems with infidelity on his part were legendary, at least among people in the industry.

By: Helen T.

Helen T. — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:29:17 +0000

I read most of the Blogs on TCM and have to say, these responses are the most interesting I've ever read by far. Please keep them coming. I've always adored Claude Rains. A superb actor. I've spent the last hour reading and re-reading these little tid bits. Thank you to all.Helen TerecyMontvale, New Jersey

By: Ernie Weckbaugh

Ernie Weckbaugh — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:15:16 +0000

Hi everyone,I am proud to say that I actually worked with Claude on a short film called The Sons of Liberty where he played a Rabbi. I guess no one knows it now, it's never on. I played his son, along with Gale Sondegaard as mom. I have to say that my grandson found this site and showed me where I can leave some memories. Here's a photo of Mr. R. and myself:http://www.casagraphics.com/images/ewchild.jpgI have so many memories of him, most of them pleasant. He was pretty nice to me and after the first day, never scared me at all. His voice was rich and so beautiful. Even as a kid I loved it. There were some great voices in Hollywood: Gregory Peck, James Mason, Orson Welles. But I think Mr. Rains used his voice so well and meaningfully. His voice was deeper in person, more of a baritone and a little raspy. I can still close my eyes and hear that magnificent voice. That was his ticket to fame and fortune at Warners I think.I am amused at the people who posting about him being a ladies man. You know as a boy I didn't pick up on this, but my tutor and my mom did. He was a little vain about his looks. He was always brushing his hair, after they took the make up off and the attached hairpiece to make him appear Revolutionary War period. He had thick hair, he had a lot of hair for a man his age. Everyone was wanting to do things for him, like get an ashtray, get his script, get his glasses. That's one thing I didn't see mentioned. Mr. Rains wore black horn-rimmed glasses when not on camera. They made him look distinguished I think, but he didn't like to be with them when people were around. When a lady came by, those glasses were ripped off. I still remember stuff like that.Oh boy yes, the ladies loved him. My mom loved him, her favorite was George Brett but after she met Mr. Rains he was #1. He signed an autograph for her on a copy of some old magazine, Modern Screen, I think. I know he had a little girl, I don't know if he was married then or not but I think every woman wanted to wait on him hand and foot and he loved it. When I grew up that's what I tried to take from him. He liked pretty women, they loved him, what's not to like? Life's short, live it up. He was responsible about that though. He wasn't a boozer like Spencer Tracy or wild like Flynn or late or not a pro. This man knew his lines, knew his mark and got it done.Another thing I remember is that before the still shots for publicity he was very fussy about his hair and wardrobe. He dressed swanky. Always with cufflinks, cuffs, leather shoes, the whole 9 yards. Real nicely dressed.I don't know if I'd call Mr. Rains nice, but he was serious, smart and took an interest in me. He read me a little kids book once between takes. I look back with fondness on him because his reputation has just grown and grown. I'm proud to have played him son way back 70 years ago.