Charles Laughton is the greatest character actor of any century. He did not have a loveless marriage. True, it was cruel not telling his wife until after they married, but they respected and revered each other until his death. She chose to stay which means a lot. Years after his death, she always spoke reverently and with pride about him. He died of bone cancer. One of the most painful of all cancers.It is very clear he is in ill health here. Thank you for this posting. Genius is too small a wo
Thank you for your remarks regarding Charles and Elsa! They were well suited , and certainly loved each other. Like many married couples, they relished each other's company.
And Frank Lloyd Wright, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lily Pons, Marian Anderson,Leontyne Price, Thomas Schippers, Alfred Hitchcock, Gore Vidal, Herman Wouk, James Michener, Seiji Ozawa, Diana Ross, Col. Sanders, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Mayor Richard Daley, Phil Rizzuto, Paul Anka, and so on. It was the only TV show my Father insisted on watching. It was a very classy show. There's nothing like it on TV today.
Laughton was so superb we loved it when he would ham things up a bit because he was the best of all actors. In Abbott and Costello meet Capt Kidd Laughton made up most of his lines.."The Night of the Hunter" remains the pinnacle of movie making after over 50 years Timeless
Les Miserables, Witness For The Prosecution, The Suspect, Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Ruggles Of Red Gap, Captain Kidd, This Land Is Mine, The Devil and The Deep, Advise and Consent, so many others. My all time favourite screen actor.
He was born on the North Yorkshire coast at Scarborough. This part of the world produces a certain type of man. Mr Laughton is a perfect example. Some say gruff or stubborn others would say the salt of the earth. Whatever your opinion he was a remarkable actor and sadly missed.
He was a magnificent actor! I would have loved to have seen him on-stage, just once. I know that his London stage debut was in a play by Gogol. (That would have been a treat to see). Both he and his wife, Elsa were terrific. They were amazing in 1957s "Witness for The Prosecution". Another terrific film that they did together was "Rembrandt" (1936).
Yes, these WML clips are my fav's too--I think they've taken on a second life on YT--so very entertaining and millions are obviously so enjoying them. A more elegant America--so different from the reality show present. I only half agree with you regarding our three judges there--I think that was what gave the show some 'class'--they were cultured New Yorkers.
Brilliant actor! Laughton's performance in 'The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934) is remarkable. When I first saw this film I suspected his character had desires for his daughter, being 1934 they were unable to 'show or say' anything on the screen. Years later, I saw an interview with him and he was asked about the censors at the time of the making of the movie and how he worked around them, he simply said, "They could not censor my eyes."
Did you all hear that loud cheering? That's usually reserved for blond bombshells--not a portly character actor. But this actor is wayy different---he's above and beyond---
Yes Charles Laughton was wayy different--he's above and beyond. Can you imagine anyone like Charles Laughton today? Both Bette Davis and Maureen O'Hara had great words to say about him.
Certainly is and without giving away the ending - I have to say one of the most chilling climaxes on the screen. A must see movie for all nail bitting fans!
Get ahold of his reading....ANYTHING. That is what Bennett was talking about. He was the greatest dramatic reader I have ever seen. In his film Rembrandt he simply reads from the Bible and it is like I have never heard it read before or in Ruggles of Red Gap in which he reads the Gettysburg Address. Spellbinding. And yet he does it low key, simple and without 'flourishes'. Pure unexplainable magic.
That production of “Major Barbara” ran for 241 performances and was directed by Mr. Laughton. It was the longest run of that show on Broadway. Also in the cast were Glynis Johns and Cornelia Otis Skinner.
Great actor. Anybody who wants to be thoroughly entertained should check out "Witness for the Prosecution." The delightful actress who plays his nurse and nemesis in the film was Laughton's wife in real life, Elsa Lanchester.
He played excellently as Quasimodo in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1939), American monochrome film. The plot differs considerably from that of the original novel. At the end of the film, Esmeralda is pardoned and freed from hanging and then leaves with Gringoire and a huge crowd out of the public square. In the novel, Gringoire left Esmeralda with Frollo capturing her and saves her goat instead, resulting in Esmeralda's death.
My first exposure to Charles Laughton was as a Captain Bligh caricature in the Bugs Bunny cartoon Buccaneer Bunny. It wasn't until I was a little older that I actually saw any of his films. Always enjoyed him in comedic roles like The Canterville Ghost, Ruggles of Red Gap and aspects of Witness for the Prosecution. FYI: Laughton and Meredith also starred in THE MAN ON THE EIFFEL TOWER directed by Meredith.
In film after film, Laughton proved that no actor could dominate a scene the way he could --- and that continued right up to his last film --- "Advise and Consent" in 1962 where his portrayal of the senior senator from South Carolina, Seab Cooley ended up not only dominating every scene he was in but the film itself.
If I may be permitted to put an even finer point on this, the phrase that would best express bitterchew's meaning, as I understand it, is "my favorites ARE Fred and Steve Allen", the present tense of the verb reflecting bitterchew's current preferences.
I'm hooked on these old WML clips, but have to admit that the regulars on the panel(Serf, Kilgallen and Francis)always maintained a sort of arrogance toward anyone they perceived to be not in their "league" as well as a kind of bewildered inability to figure out how to react to those far above it, although sometimes Arlene was down to Earth. John Daley was ok, but my favorites is Fred and Steve Allen.
@iLY0X8 Well, he was probably in bad health, but on a deeper level he was what you would call "complicated". Living for decades in a marriage to a woman you are not attracted to because you're gay can do that to a person. Especially a person of great intelligence and talent who happened to be born into a homophobic culture.
"Witness for the Prosecution" is the movie where I finally took notice of him. After that, I couldn't get enough of his films, such a wonderful and talented actor!
Not only did Elsa Lanchester play the nurse in "Witness for the Prosecution," but she had earlier played Anne of Cleaves in "The Private Life of Henry VIII." As for the readings, I've heard a few on NPR in the past several years, including a Jack Kerouac selection, but I don't know how to find them. See the never-finished movie of "I, Claudius" on PBS the next time it's shown.
@rolex452 Have you seen the Lon Chaney, Sr. version? I revere Laughton but that's like saying Christopher Lee's Frankenstein monster or Dracula is the standard by which all others are judged rather than Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi.
I first saw Charles Laughton in Sidewalks of London with Vivien Leigh and I loved him as soon as I saw him and he reminded me so much of John Candy too. He seemed like a big teddy bear back then, 1938. It's sad to see him here, he looks so miserable...
There's one more nit to pick: he ought to have written "Fred Allen and Steve Allen". Writing as he did, he left the impression that the two men were related, which they were not.
Yes a real star with high intelligence unlike most, but not all, of the so called stars of today with a vacuum between their ears and all looks and no substance I'm afraid.
I have a dim idea that as a young man Laughton was sad that he did not have the looks to be (what was then considered) a leading man. Notice his expression when asked if he is a leading man type.
![What's My Line? - Charles Laughton; Burgess Meredith [panel] (Nov 25, 1956)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/npt1X6k-ypI/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Charles Laughton; Burgess Meredith [panel] (Nov 25, 1956)](/img/tr.png)
Charles Laughton is the greatest character actor of any century. He did not have a loveless marriage. True, it was cruel not telling his wife until after they married, but they respected and revered each other until his death. She chose to stay which means a lot. Years after his death, she always spoke reverently and with pride about him. He died of bone cancer. One of the most painful of all cancers.It is very clear he is in ill health here. Thank you for this posting. Genius is too small a wo
Thank you for your remarks regarding Charles and Elsa! They were well suited , and certainly loved each other. Like many married couples, they relished each other's company.
One of the most sophisticated, talented erudite actors ever...the Great Charles Laughton...they certainly don't make them like that anymore.
Now this man💚 was an actor a real Superstar⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ God blessed him all his work was Excellent 💖💜💛💙💚
Quite miraculous, indeed. A magnificent actor, I loved his performance in Witness for the Prosecution.
That was a good one! It was also Tyrone Power's last completed film.
It is amazing how many truly great stars of stage, screen , and television appeared on Whats My Line. It was a very classy show.
And Frank Lloyd Wright, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lily Pons, Marian Anderson,Leontyne Price, Thomas Schippers, Alfred Hitchcock, Gore Vidal, Herman Wouk, James Michener, Seiji Ozawa, Diana Ross, Col. Sanders, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Mayor Richard Daley, Phil Rizzuto, Paul Anka, and so on. It was the only TV show my Father insisted on watching. It was a very classy show. There's nothing like it on TV today.
Great does begin to describe his acting and speaking. Biggest example of the difference between past times and now. Thank you.
The only movie he ever directed "Night of the Hunter" is one of the best noir films ever made, and better than anything being made today.
Tom Morganti and it didn’t carry over well at the time, he kind of took it personal and never directed again.
Absolutely. "Witness for the Prosecution" is one of the greats. Works of such caliber are rarely made today.
What an actor! We dont get actors of this caliber today.
So humble and polite. A star.
Laughton was so superb we loved it when he would ham things up a bit because he was the best of all actors. In Abbott and Costello meet Capt Kidd
Laughton made up most of his lines.."The Night of the Hunter" remains
the pinnacle of movie making after over 50 years Timeless
Les Miserables, Witness For The Prosecution, The Suspect, Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Ruggles Of Red Gap, Captain Kidd, This Land Is Mine, The Devil and The Deep, Advise and Consent, so many others. My all time favourite screen actor.
+Paul Wardle Not to mention Hobsons Choice. Brilliant.
@@degsbabe that one … the VERY best ❤
Should have been SIR Charles Laughton!
He was born on the North Yorkshire coast at Scarborough. This part of the world produces a certain type of man. Mr Laughton is a perfect example. Some say gruff or stubborn others would say the salt of the earth. Whatever your opinion he was a remarkable actor and sadly missed.
Night of the Hunter (1955)! One of my favourite films. Great cinema and/but a story time wasn't ready for back then.
He was a magnificent actor! I would have loved to have seen him on-stage, just once. I know that his London stage debut was in a play by Gogol. (That would have been a treat to see). Both he and his wife, Elsa were terrific. They were amazing in 1957s "Witness for The Prosecution". Another terrific film that they did together was "Rembrandt" (1936).
What a great actor he was! Mutiny on the Bounty..Les Miserables with Fredrick March , Witness for the prosecution. Anthony Adverse...:)
Great talent!
Yes, these WML clips are my fav's too--I think they've taken on a second life on YT--so very entertaining and millions are obviously so enjoying them. A more elegant America--so different from the reality show present. I only half agree with you regarding our three judges there--I think that was what gave the show some 'class'--they were cultured New Yorkers.
His role as Captain Bligh on Mutiny On The Bounty was my fav!
Brilliant actor! Laughton's performance in 'The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934) is remarkable. When I first saw this film I suspected his character had desires for his daughter, being 1934 they were unable to 'show or say' anything on the screen. Years later, I saw an interview with him and he was asked about the censors at the time of the making of the movie and how he worked around them, he simply said, "They could not censor my eyes."
Did you all hear that loud cheering? That's usually reserved for blond bombshells--not a portly character actor. But this actor is wayy different---he's above and beyond---
Yes Charles Laughton was wayy different--he's above and beyond. Can you imagine anyone like Charles Laughton today? Both Bette Davis and Maureen O'Hara had great words to say about him.
Certainly is and without giving away the ending - I have to say one of the most chilling climaxes on the screen. A must see movie for all nail bitting fans!
I Cant believe on this.
Charles laughton is my favorit actor.
He make laugh in his rôle Henry VIII.
Also an expert in Witnesse for the prosecution.
Get ahold of his reading....ANYTHING. That is what Bennett was talking about. He was the greatest dramatic reader I have ever seen. In his film Rembrandt he simply reads from the Bible and it is like I have never heard it read before or in Ruggles of Red Gap in which he reads the Gettysburg Address. Spellbinding. And yet he does it low key, simple and without 'flourishes'. Pure unexplainable magic.
Wonderful Actor
Superb actor and great gentleman.
That production of “Major Barbara” ran for 241 performances and was directed by Mr. Laughton. It was the longest run of that show on Broadway. Also in the cast were Glynis Johns and Cornelia Otis Skinner.
Great actor. Anybody who wants to be thoroughly entertained should check out "Witness for the Prosecution." The delightful actress who plays his nurse and nemesis in the film was Laughton's wife in real life, Elsa Lanchester.
What a great man,
(Continued from below). Genius is too small a word for this great man.
One of the all time greatest actors ever
never thought I would see prince john and the penguin in the same game show, now i'm a happy guy
He played excellently as Quasimodo in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1939), American monochrome film. The plot differs considerably from that of the original novel. At the end of the film, Esmeralda is pardoned and freed from hanging and then leaves with Gringoire and a huge crowd out of the public square. In the novel, Gringoire left Esmeralda with Frollo capturing her and saves her goat instead, resulting in Esmeralda's death.
A great actor and fine gentlemen
My first exposure to Charles Laughton was as a Captain Bligh caricature in the Bugs Bunny cartoon Buccaneer Bunny. It wasn't until I was a little older that I actually saw any of his films. Always enjoyed him in comedic roles like The Canterville Ghost, Ruggles of Red Gap and aspects of Witness for the Prosecution. FYI: Laughton and Meredith also starred in THE MAN ON THE EIFFEL TOWER directed by Meredith.
In film after film, Laughton proved that no actor could dominate a scene the way he could --- and that continued right up to his last film --- "Advise and Consent" in 1962 where his portrayal of the senior senator from South Carolina, Seab Cooley ended up not only dominating every scene he was in but the film itself.
If I may be permitted to put an even finer point on this, the phrase that would best express bitterchew's meaning, as I understand it, is "my favorites ARE Fred and Steve Allen", the present tense of the verb reflecting bitterchew's current preferences.
Great actor and elegant mannered man
I'm hooked on these old WML clips, but have to admit that the regulars on the panel(Serf, Kilgallen and Francis)always maintained a sort of arrogance toward anyone they perceived to be not in their "league" as well as a kind of bewildered inability to figure out how to react to those far above it, although sometimes Arlene was down to Earth. John Daley was ok, but my favorites is Fred and Steve Allen.
Neeto neeto neeto!!! He could do anything from Shakespeare to light comedy and beyond!!!Such a gentleman!!!
@iLY0X8 Well, he was probably in bad health, but on a deeper level he was what you would call "complicated". Living for decades in a marriage to a woman you are not attracted to because you're gay can do that to a person. Especially a person of great intelligence and talent who happened to be born into a homophobic culture.
"Witness for the Prosecution" is the movie where I finally took notice of him. After that, I couldn't get enough of his films, such a wonderful and talented actor!
@senoramariposa WftP is my favourite Laughton film. I could watch it over and over and it still amazes me.
Class.
Wow! Burgess was young there!
You can call this clip, "The Hunchback Meets The Penguin".
brilliant
On Broadway when it was so very interesting.
yes, perhaps THEE greatest---
Not only did Elsa Lanchester play the nurse in "Witness for the Prosecution," but she had earlier played Anne of Cleaves in "The Private Life of Henry VIII." As for the readings, I've heard a few on NPR in the past several years, including a Jack Kerouac selection, but I don't know how to find them. See the never-finished movie of "I, Claudius" on PBS the next time it's shown.
@rolex452 Have you seen the Lon Chaney, Sr. version? I revere Laughton but that's like saying Christopher Lee's Frankenstein monster or Dracula is the standard by which all others are judged rather than Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi.
Charles Laughton has stage presence.
This episode is only 20 years before Rocky..but look how young Burgess Meredith is.
I first saw Charles Laughton in Sidewalks of London with Vivien Leigh and I loved him as soon as I saw him and he reminded me so much of John Candy too. He seemed like a big teddy bear back then, 1938. It's sad to see him here, he looks so miserable...
With that Batman mask, Dorothy should arrest Burgess Meredith right then and there
There's one more nit to pick: he ought to have written "Fred Allen and Steve Allen". Writing as he did, he left the impression that the two men were related, which they were not.
Yes a real star with high intelligence unlike most, but not all, of the so called stars of today with a vacuum between their ears and all looks and no substance I'm afraid.
Burgess AND Charles!
Island of Lost Souls
Great actor. Although the book Full Service puts a unique slant on Charles and Cole Porter.
I would have guessed Leo Gorcey.
still can't get it right, WERE Fred and Steve Allen.
The Penguin is duped!
I have a dim idea that as a young man Laughton was sad that he did not have the looks to be (what was then considered) a leading man. Notice his expression when asked if he is a leading man type.
could be john candy's father
dude looks like my ex-mother-in-law, and no, that isn't a compliment
Did Clark Gable ever appear on the show?
Clark Gable never appeared on TV
Except with Doris Day on the Academy Awards...
quasimodo
sorry to abuse the Queen's English; WAS Fred and Steve Allen.
Are you in a legitimate play or a really dodgy one? 🤣
why does he look so in pain and unhappy?
Cancer will do that to you.
Constipation is just terrible! Terrible!
“Are you be any chance a practicing Homosexual”?
“How VERRRRY dare you”!
“Suggesting that I am a receiver of Swollen goods”!!
Zaphod Beeblebrox He had a novel recipe for a sandwich-filling.
"Are you by any chance a Homosexual?"
"NO! NO! I MOST! CERTAINLY! AM! NOT!"
Sanctuary...
Laughton has such a large double chin he almost has two faces. I wonder what the rest of him looks like. In fact maybe I shouldnt.