Customer Reviews

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

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Another great biography from John Soister. Mr. Soister wrote the definitive book on Universal horror films from the 1930's a year ago, now he publishes the definitive biography of one of filmdon's acting giants, Claude Rains. A book on this wonderful actor was way overdue. Soister proves it was well worth the wait! Each of Rains' films is recounted in detail, with Soister's well informed opinion on each film, and Mr. Rains' performance. If you are a fan of Claude Rains, or Hollywood's Golden Era, THIS is a must book for you! He may have been short in physical stature, but Claude Rains was a towering giant when it came to talent, style, and film presence. You won't be disappointed in buying this great work!

Being a fan of some Bette Davis movies, I purchased "Deception" and was stunned by the performance of Claude Rains. Since then, I have purchased as many Claude Rains performances as I could. Here was a man who overcame a childhood of abject poverty, little education and two forms of speech impediments. He became a performer of such intensity it is difficult to notice anyone else in the scene. Although his height, or lack of it, usually kept him from getting the girl, Miss Davis admitted that he reeked of sex appeal. What Elvis evoked with a wiggle, Claude was able to do with that left eyebrow and that voice. Naturally, after seeing some performances, I definitely wanted to find out all I could about Mr. Rains and "An Actor's Voice" did not disappoint. This is a penetrating book about a brilliant. irreplaceable artist.

This book is exactly what it says, it is comprehensive (it covers his whole life in great detail). It's Illustrated (it has pictures and photographs throughout the book). It can most definitely be used as a reference to many things, Drama, The Arts, Claude rains, life in british poverty. Overall this is a very good book.

My wife is an avid Hollywood movie buff. I have purchased her a book for her birthday and Christmas for over 15 years. I gave her this one on a flight to Hawaii. She could not put it down. Gave her/us a whole new perspective on Claude Rains. It was so good that we she since passed it on to my 91 year old aunt.

It is interesting facts about Claude Rains I never knew before.
I am glad I bought the book about his life and times.