Claude Rains: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference to His Work in Film, Stage, Radio, Television and Recordings

by John T. Soister, Joanna Wioskowski

The career of Claude Rains is often, and unfairly, overshadowed by the careers of the ever-popular Karloff, Lugosi, Chaney and Rathbone, but few can dispute that he was truly one of the world's foremost character actors. The Invisible Man, ironically, made him quite the visible star. In his own inimitable way, Rains later became John Jasper (in Mystery of Edwin Drood ), Louis Renault ( Casablanca ), Julius Caesar ( Caesar and Cleopatra ), and Mr. Dryden ( Lawrence of Arabia ). While concentrating on Rains' more than fifty films, this book also comprehensively examines his work in other the stage, radio, television and recordings. His only child, Jessica, in the foreword, provides a brief biography of her father. There are many rare photographs.

278 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Felice Carter]

An excellent summary of each Rains film with special focus on his performance. The author even squeezes in Rains’ TV appearances. I tried reading a straight biography and was bored stiff. But this format works wonderfully.