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Rembrandt

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75% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Seventeenth-century painter Rembrandt van Rijn (Charles Laughton) suffers the loss of his wife. After an affair with the housekeeper, he finds lasting companionship with his housemaid (Elsa Lanchester), causing widespread scandal. Rembrandt's unwillingness to shill his paintings for commercial gain leads to financial difficulty. He navigates between the world of kings and queens and that of lowly beggars, finding his place as an artist. The death of his second wife devastates the painter.
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Critics Reviews

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Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Provides a parallel between its topic and presentation, in that both the motion picture and the painter sought to humanize their subjects. Rated: 4/4 Mar 20, 2022 Full Review Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine The photoplay lacks unity, and Mr. Laughton, at least in the early reels, seems to be playing Oscar Wilde. Apr 20, 2020 Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine A dignified, informative and beautifully acted picture. Sep 25, 2019 Full Review MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin The sincerity of Rembrandt's belief in his art, his unwillingness to cringe though it mean worldly failure, and again, the changes in his appearance with the passing of time, are all well brought out. Jan 23, 2018 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A marvelously spirited and subtle performance by Charles Laughton, as the great 17th-century Dutch painter. Rated: A- Oct 23, 2007 Full Review Sean Axmaker Turner Classic Movies Online [Alexander Korda's] direction tends to be stiff and stagy but he showcases his magnificent sets and costumes and his detailed period recreations beautifully. Oct 13, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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s r Insightful to the painter, but not much else besides good acting, if you like Laughton. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A decent biopic of the artist that focuses primarily of the poor reception his work received in his day and his difficulties making a living. It's fairly routine fare elevated by Laughton's magnificent performance. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Rembrandt 1936. This film begins at his height as an artist and covers his downfall. This film focuses on his relationships and debt but really starts without the explanation to where he came from, It does not go into his artistic technics, nor his love for collecting foreign objects. Many of the scenes in this film are posed to look like Rembrandt paintings. I like the shadows and lighting in this film for night scenes and inside buildings. Rembrandt liked to paint the poor and render their flaws. He preferred to draw them as they were as people rather than painting them idealized. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful forgotten gem, made all the more special by Charles Laughton's magnetic bravado. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Charles Laughton is wonderful in this role. It's a true masterpiece from start to finish. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Charles Laughton has been great in every film I've seen him in, and that's no exception in this, the earliest of his roles I have watched. It must be one of the first biopics, keeping to what is now a tried and tested formula, and whilst the film is somewhat unimaginative and quite dated, Laughton's performance and Rembrandt's interesting life make this worth a look. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Rembrandt

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Cast & Crew

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Alexander Korda

Director

Charles Laughton

Rembrandt van Rijn

Elsa Lanchester

Hendrickje Stoffels

Gertrude Lawrence

Geertje Dirx

Edward Chapman

Fabrizius

Roger Livesey

Beggar Saul

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Rembrandt

Rembrandt (1936) Rembrandt (1936) Rembrandt (1936) Rembrandt (1936) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Seventeenth-century painter Rembrandt van Rijn (Charles Laughton) suffers the loss of his wife. After an affair with the housekeeper, he finds lasting companionship with his housemaid (Elsa Lanchester), causing widespread scandal. Rembrandt's unwillingness to shill his paintings for commercial gain leads to financial difficulty. He navigates between the world of kings and queens and that of lowly beggars, finding his place as an artist. The death of his second wife devastates the painter.
Director
Alexander Korda
Production Co
London Film Productions
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1936, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 29, 2018
Runtime
1h 26m