Search - Rembrandt on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1936 DVD Release: 06/19/2001 Format: DVD - Black and White,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 25 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Drama, Period Film, Biopic [feature]

Lightning steadfastly refused to strike twice for the director/actor team of Alexander Korda and Charles Laughton. Though the pair had scored an international success with the 1933 quasi-biopic The Private Life of Henry VIII, they couldn't make the magic happen again with 1936's Rembrandt. Laughton's performance is solid throughout, and Korda's recreation of Rembrandt's Holland is meticulous, but the film suffers from a lack of overall dramatic tension. Except for his artistic achievements and the deaths of his two wives, nothing really "happens" to Rembrandt--at least nothing as colorful as the escapades of Henry VIII. The best element of the film is the successful effort by cinematographer Georges Perinal to recreate the famous "Rembrandt lighting" effect in each scene. Laughton is given fine support by Elsa Lanchester (his real-life wife), and by legendary stage star Gertrude Lawrence in a rare film role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Charles Laughton - Rembrandt van Rijn
Gertrude Lawrence - Geertke Dirx
Elsa Lanchester - Hendrickje Stoffels
John Bryning - Titus van Rijn
Edward Chapman - Fabrizius
Walter Hudd - Banning Cocq
Richard Gofe - Titus as Child

Alexander Korda's 1936 biopic Rembrandt comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include the original theatrical trailer. This is a fine release from MGM/UA. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide