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Post by kijii on Jan 17, 2018 18:58:25 GMT
I have started to collect a viewing of George Arliss movies. I'm surprised how many there are. He almost always played an old conniving man would cleverly gets his way in the end. I often co-starred with his wife, Florence. Below is a group of movie posters of films I have seen--Often bought, seen on TCM or can be found on YouTube. Since he worked for Warner Bros. one can often find other contract players from Warner Bros in his movies.          |
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Post by Doghouse6 on Jan 17, 2018 21:48:07 GMT
I adore Mr. George Arliss, and have periodically sung his praises at this and, y'know, that other site. I regret to say I'm through only about half of his filmography (a number including all those represented in the poster art selections) since first coming across him in The House Of Rothschild decades ago and being bowled over by his charisma and commanding presence.
His impish charm renders him irresistible even in a malevolent role like that of "The Raja" in The Green Goddess, and I always marvel at his ability to meld grand and colorful stage technique with subtlety and nuance suited to the camera, grounding the entire package with a sense of commitment that confers credibility upon his characterizations.
Of those I've seen multiple times, I've most recently re-watched The King's Vacation, as good a starting point as any for the uninitiated and a shining example of his authority, humor and touching sincerity.
In short: yup, absolutely a fan.
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Post by mikef6 on Jan 17, 2018 22:17:55 GMT
Cardinal Richelieu / Rowland V. Lee (1935). The play from which this movie is adapted was near 100 years old. It’s author was the (in)famous Edward Bulwer-Lytton – he of “It was a dark and stormy night.” It had been a hit through most of the 19th century, its title role tackled by many of the century’s most famous actors, like Edwin Booth. The maxim “the pen is mightier than the sword” originated with this play. Thus, when the newly formed Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox decided to adapt this play – who ya gonna call? They turned to a veteran actor who was famed for starring in biopics and who had been named the winner of the Best Actor Oscar in only the third year of that award – George Arliss. The big Acting Scene that the former 19th century actors feasted on was near the end when Richelieu is going to be assassinated at court. As the killers approach, he announces that he is protected by heaven and there is a space around him that is protected by God and others beware. It is marvelous and Arliss shines.
I have also seen “The House of Rothschild” and love it, too. I was also impressed with Boris Karloff as the British aristocrat who is the anti-Semite leader blocking progress for the Rothschilds.
Arliss is a fine actor who proves that pre-Method acting styles can be just as impressive as anything modern.
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Post by koskiewicz on Jan 17, 2018 23:24:42 GMT
...I quite liked him in "Dr Syn"
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