Tag Archives: Claude Rains

The Books: The Making of Casablanca: Bogart, Bergman, and World War II, by Aljean Harmetz

Next book on the Hollywood shelf: The Making of Casablanca: Bogart, Bergman, and World War II, by Aljean Harmetz The book was first published under the title Round Up the Usual Suspects, which I like better, but that’s neither here … Continue reading

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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), dir. Frank Capra

Frank Capra on Jean Arthur (quoted in Richard Schickel’s The Men Who Made the Movies): Jean Arthur was an enigmatic figure because she doesn’t do very well in crowds, and she doesn’t do very well with people, and she doesn’t … Continue reading

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Today in history: November 26, 1942

Casablanca premiered at the Hollywood Theatre in New York City. It was not expected to be a long-lasting mythical evocation of the quintessential American ideals we all aspire to, from generation to generation. It was just supposed to be another … Continue reading

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In praise of Claude Rains

I love the “5 for the day” series on House Next Door – and today the focus is on Claude Rains – one of my favorite actors ever. With an entire career of great performances – my favorite has to … Continue reading

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Notorious On the Big Screen

We met at one of our favorite places – if any of you all come to New York – I so so recommend it: The restaurant is called ‘ino. It has about 5 tables (check out the photo. That’s IT.) … Continue reading

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Casablanca Appreciation Day

From The Making of Casablanca: Bogart, Bergman, and World War II: Bogart and Rains admired each other, and that admiration comes through their scenes together. What seems to be a genuine friendship between Rick and Renault takes the sting out … Continue reading

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Casablanca Appreciation Day

From The Making of Casablanca: Bogart, Bergman, and World War II: Casablanca started on Stage 12A with the flashback to Rick and Ilsa’s romance in Paris. It was an accident that Bogart was required to make love to Bergman almost … Continue reading

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Now, Voyager and Other Tidbits

I haven’t gotten out of my pajamas in 20 hours. Just so ya know. Life is GOOD. We all watched Now, Voyager last night (well, Chrisanne went to bed). Bette Davis has true pain, true sadness, she’s an ugly duckling, … Continue reading

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Top 5 Moments in Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious

Top 5 moments in Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious: 1. The kiss between Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman – it was the longest kiss in screen history at the time. Because of the morality production codes, no kiss could last longer than … Continue reading

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Cary Grant in Notorious

In the famous last scene of Notorious, Ingrid Bergman lies in bed, trapped in the house of her Nazi husband, she is being slowly poisoned by Nazi-man (Claude Rains) and by his terrifying evil Fraulein mother (Leopoldine Konstantin). Bergman lies … Continue reading

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