LAUGHTON'S PORTRAITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1937, Page 5

LAUGHTON'S PORTRAITS.

NEWEST IS REMBRANDT. A new film starring Charles Laugliton is always something of an event. But mote than ordinary interest is said to attach to the Alexander Korda production "Rembrandt." because. with the exception of "Rucjrb-s of Re<l (Jap." it is the fii?-t tune that La ugh ton lias been presented in a rea!i> f> mpathetic role. And. aicording to ovej seas critics. h» g;v t -s in 't his most brilliant performance to date. It will stait at the Knibassy Theati e I'i-Rioiion.

La ngh ton's portrait of Rembrandt show •. tli,- lamous aitist as a man wtio reflated to Ikjw t<i convention. who answetej the inner impulses of his geniuts anil p.iinted what he felt, rather than make money by painting as people wanted liiui to. ami who believed that the only thing in life really worth stiivmg for ivas that a man should be able to take prule in his work. Thus he is seen ut.'Vl'v awa\ fioni h:s wife's fmietal de-;n;. thscandal lie causes in oidei to finish her pojtiait befoie hci memory shall fad.-. He is <»st ini:sf-d iuine.l bee;ni>e. whea he paints the ofli-cis <■■ the ("it\ Cuard 'n the famous picture. "The Nig'it W •! h" lie gives them not the flittery Iwant, but. an .utistie masterpiece. He prefci « painting a beggai to securing a •i -h cumliiission to .!<> a prince's p«i trait: and

! in ol 1 aze he spends his iasl forin« •m> brushes and colours instead of on food So 1,0 ends his Tiff a pauper. his zenius | 7'^-i'jnw<l only by later generations. Round up with this record of Kem- . In 111.It's artistic career is the story of his loves. His first wife, the adored Saskia. does not appear in the film, dvinz just as it opens: but <;he is the inspiration of > much of his work, and of a marvellous monologue on the subject of woman, which Lauzhton delivers with all the artistry at his command. Then comes* Oeertke Dux. his housekeeper. who | becomes his mistress and makes his life miserable with her shrewdness and lack lof understanding. Ob trude Lawrence , handles this role. Her 7>"!a ein R-:n----jbrandt's affe<t ; ons is taken bv the s Tin'e } seryins-maid. Hendrickie S".• •eff--Is ' played bv Lauzht'-n's wife. E"<-< I- tn< he»v-r 1. Out of j'-aV."« v . <1— •?l •• dentil!! <-s Hend'i' kje T<> th<- <. and she is < Ne'.nimm.'r ate' for imm'Tal conduct, vet - :T,i with Rembrandt • o make him :it "\ until her dentil. Then come the j ' losing scenes of the artist as an "M •tinn. norert v-stri-ken. r»f qn'"tlr hannr ' j with his memories and the inner know--1 I ledjre that his work will life, even if It la • not appreciated by his contemporarwi.