Yes, I agree with your take on "L'homme de la Tour Eiffel," which is why I specified that he was "a" director, and not "the" director. ;-)
I was mostly directing my comment to those too young to know of Laughton's place among Hollywood "royalty," as I'm guessing the majority of Steemians, when presented with the name Charles Laughton, wouldn't have a clue who he was.
He turned in so many stellar performances that I have a hard time even choosing my favorites, but to your list, I would add "Witness for the Prosecution," "The Private Life of Henry VIII," and "The Canterville Ghost."
And I remain sad that Laughton's performance in "I, Claudius" was never completed, because I so loved the 1976 version with Derek Jacobi and John Hurt. And I have always loved Merle Oberon. If von Sternberg could have just gotten his ego under control, it could have been a truly great film, but c'est la vie, it was not meant to be.
The saddest thing of all, however, was United Artists complete failure to support "The Night of the Hunter" when it came out, which had they done so would have made a great impact. But as the Art Director, Hilyard Brown, commented in a later documentary, they were simply not intelligent enough to do so.
Despite their blunder, "Night of the Hunter" was hailed as one of the ten best films of the year.
Sadder still, because the film was not a commercial success, Charles Laughton took it very much to heart, and never directed again, despite a clear gift for it.
Years later, Robert Mitchum said that Laughton was his favorite director, and that "Night of the Hunter" was his favorite film, out of all the films he had ever made.
Oh yes, you're absolutely right, I'm new here and did not think about that. Young folks NEED to hear the complete story. Would you mind if I edited the article quoting you (and giving your handler of course)? I know it's hard to pick any film Laughton's appeared in, so many classics. Witness for the Prosecution, of course, Billy Wilder!! I haven't watched the 76 version of "I, Claudius" but I sure will. John Hurt was an outstanding actor... There is something so fascinating about unfinished films or unreleased ones. It's almost a sub-genre of cinema History. You know, Erich von Stroheim's Queen Kelly, Terry Gilliam's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, and also the Jodorowsky's crazy Dune project! There are part of the legend too. :)
I don't mind at all, edit away. ;-)
And in 1976's "I, Claudius," Hurt played Caligula, so you can just imagine. Perhaps not as over-the-top as Malcolm McDowell's big screen take, but then McDowell actually refused to do some of the things director Tinto Brass, was asking, so who knows where it could have gone had he and several of the other actors not balked.
I was born in Hollywood, CA, and raised in L.A., so I take my film history seriously, though I am not an expert by far. But I have always loved good cinema.
I'm gonna watch it asap! Oh McDowell was such a great Caligula!! Perfect as a paranoid egotic Tyrant in this orgiastic mess. I love him in many films. You're from Hollywood? Well that's a nice way to start your life, just next to the Sunset Boulevard. <3 I'm French btw, like Les frères Lumières^^.
LOL - I was actually born on Sunset Boulevard. The hospital where I was born sits on the corner of Sunset and Edgemont. ;-)
McDowell is indeed an excellent actor, and I've enjoyed him in many films as well. And he can do over-the-top roles better than almost anyone.
The Lumiere brothers were incredible innovators for their day. Thanks for reminding me of them.
I enjoyed the few excursions we took to France while I was living in Luxembourg. Hopefully one day in the future I'll have the chance to visit again and explore it more fully.
Have a great day and Steem on!
of course you were!!! So cool :) I hope you visit our country soon. We have the most amazing directors too. George Méliès, Jean Cocteau !! And then Maurice Pialat, François Truffaut, Louis Malle, Robert Bresson, Jean Renoir, Marcel Carné, to name a few of my favorite, and of course Godard and all the Nouvelle Vague. :)
Indeed, I grew up watching their films, especially Traffaut and Malle. And I love Cocteau.
And Buñuel should really be in there too, because even though he was Spanish, his work really didn't come into its freest expression until he moved to Paris, where he had not only better access to film equipment and financing, but to willing and appreciative audiences.
And without the surrealist movement that gained its foothold in France, many directors worldwide would likely be making far different films. David Lynch immediately leaps to mind.
Buñuel, of couuurse! I agree he's a french director in that sense. You've got amazing tastes :) Makes me think of Jean-Claude Carrière, we always forget to mention the scriptwriters and he's a true master. I'm so fond of the surrealist movement, from poetry to films, I'm fascinated by the lives and inventions of this period, currently studying the beautiful relationship inbetween black boxers and poets of that era, Cocteau and Al Brown by example, sooo amazing. You're right, Lynch is very clearly post-surrealist.
I should also note that Luc Besson is among my current favorite directors. I love the feel of his films, which appeal directly to the subconscious.
I'm more into his first films. But Besson has done a lot for French cinema. He has constructed the biggest cinema studio in France. And he's opened a school too, where every kid is welcome. Have a great day on Steemit too!!