Laughton Says He Gets Undue Credit

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 65, 9 December 1938, Page 18

Laughton Says He Gets Undue Credit

“(JHARLIE LAUGHTON,” said Alexander Korda, who should know, “has done more for British films than any single other person in this industry. “It was the last day of shooting on ‘Rembrandt.’ We were down in the fish market by the River Colne at Denham. That day it snfftjt rank with fish ini,d wilting vegetables and grease paint, and the Hies were having a field day. I didn’t envy Laughton, who was busy swallowing raw herrings by the tail. He strolled across to join me, and lighting a cigarette with care amongst, ins whiskers, said, Tn five years I shall be finished as an actor. I’m not. like Ronald Colman; 1 shan’t grow old romantically and gracefully. As it is now I got credit for lots of things 1 don’t do.’ “Take ‘Mutiny on the Bounty.’ People had been told by that lime that I was supposed to be a decent actor. So they watched the Tahiti scenes and reveiled in them, and said, ‘Look at those lovely girls: isn’t Laughton a great actor?’ Ami they watched the storm scenes and said, ‘Aren’t: they thrilling?’ Isn’t Laughton a great actor?’ And (hey shivered over the lashings and hugged themselves and said, ‘lsn’t he a beast? Isn't he a great actor?' But in their hearts they’d rather see Gary Cooper any day—and so they should.” Charles Laughton will be seen soon in “St. Martin's Lane.”