The Charles Laughton Series will run from March 28 through June 6! His career spanned 5 decades and he played some of the biggest characters in literature and history: Henry VIII, Javert in Les Miserables, Rembrandt, Captain Bligh, a Roman and a US senator, and Quasimodo. We will watch scenes from some of these historical epics before each screening, but the selections for our class were chosen for their watchability while still getting a sense of Laughton’s amazing range. Included in the lineup is his sole directorial effort in which he does not appear on screen, The Night of the Hunter.

Please pay attention to the schedule of this class as we will skip two Saturdays due to Easter and Memorial day weekends. Although each class officially begins at 3pm, some participants choose to come early at 2:30pm to watch bonus material such as scenes from related movies and extra content related to the series or each particular screening.

March 28 – Ruggles of Red Gap (Released 3/8/1935) directed by Leo McCarey, 90 minutes. A British gentleman’s manservant discovers a “new birth of freedom” in a small Western American town in the early 20th century. This was an immensely popular movie and was nominated for Best Picture, but lost to the epic, Mutiny on the Bounty. 1935 was a huge year for Laughton as he was nominated for Best Actor for his Captain Bligh opposite Clark Gable’s Fletcher Christian, and he played Javert opposite Frederic March’s Jean Valjean. In opposition to his larger than life roles that year, as Marmaduke Ruggles Laughton shines with a gentle sarcasm and distinguished subtlety that contrasts so well with this mostly western cast.

April 11 – The Suspect (Released 12/22/1944) directed by Robert Siodmak, 85 minutes. A mild-mannered shop manager is brutally henpecked by an overbearing wife and becomes a suspect when she has a fatal accident. Charles Laughton plays Philip Marshall, one of his most sympathetic characters in this suspenseful film noir directed by Robert Siodmak, yet another German refugee turned Hollywood director. His affable charm and polite manner gives his performance an almost dashing quality that has us believe that the young Ella Raines could fall for him. And there are marvelous supporting roles from the delightfully wicked wife played by Rosalind Ivan, to the scoundrel next door played by Henry Daniell, and the relentless Scotland Yard inspector, Stanley Ridges.

April 25 – The Big Clock (Released 4/9/1948) directed by John Farrow, 95 minutes. A media tycoon commits a murder, and with the help of his blindly loyal underling he pins the rap on an innocent man, who in turn tries to solve the murder himself. Laughton plays a womanizer and the heavy in this strange picture that’s a combination film noir and screwball comedy. Laughton commands each of his scenes with authority and his wife, Elsa Lancester also shines in her supporting role. The film was remade in 1987 as No Way Out with Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman because of its suspense and airtight plot.

May 2 – Hobson’s Choice (Released 4/9/1954) directed by David Lean, 107 minutes. Henry Hobson is a widower shopkeeper struggling to maintain his control of his business and three unmarried daughters. David Lean directed this film adaptation of the popular 1915 play set in 1880 and won the 1954 BAFTA for Best British Film. The title refers to the English phrase where a free choice is given in which only one thing is actually offered; meaning a Hobson’s Choice describes an illusion that any choice but one is available. Laughton is at his blustery best giving an over-the-top performance as a man standing in the way of social progress.

May 16 – Night of the Hunter (Released 7/25/1955) directed by Charles Laughton, 92 minutes. A Bluebeard charlatan preacher marries a gullible widow to gain access to her children who may know where their criminal father stashed $10,000. Robert Mitchum and Shelly Winters were both students of Charles Laughton when he taught acting in Los Angeles in the 1950’s. They both star along with the legendary Lilian Gish in this beautifully expressionistic masterpiece that was panned by the critics and shunned by audiences at the time of its release. It now regularly is in the top 5 of the greatest films ever made with filmmakers like Robert Altman, Martin Scorcese, and the Coen brothers citing its profound influence. Because of its lack of success Laughton never directed again.

June 6 – Witness for the Prosecution (Released 12/17/1957) directed by Billy Wilder, 116 minutes. A veteran British barrister chooses to defend his client in a murder trial that has surprise after surprise. Agatha Christie’s courtroom drama gives Charles Laughton one of his most beloved roles as Sir Wilfed alongside his wife as the persistent nurse, Miss Plimsoll. Patrons were asked not to give away the surprise ending for future theatre goers. This film is a treat on all levels for those film lovers who wish to see a great director handle one of the most prolific writers of all time, and wrangle some of the greatest screen personalities including Tyronne Power and Marlene Dietrich.