Charles Laughton (1930)

Full titles read: "Audio Interviews - Charles Laughton - The Well-known Actor, talks about his "make-up" for 'On the Spot'."
London.
In what seems to be the Pathe Studios, we see a mock-up of an actor's dressing room. Charles Laughton enters and is helped on with his dressing-gown by a male dresser. Laughton asks "Has he called the half yet, Brown?"; the dresser replies "Not yet, sir". Laughton sits at the dressing table, asks for a towel and begins combing his hair. He then turns to the camera and says "The main idea about this make-up is to make myself look less like a pudding, and more like a Chicago-Italian gangster than usual - observe the secrets of the boudoir...".
He turns back towards the mirror and we see various shots of him applying his stage make-up. Laughton's voice on the soundtrack explains each process, including "Greta Garbo eyelashes - very uncomfortable!", 'a nasty little black moustache' and wig. M/S of Laughton putting on a smoking jacket and standing before the camera, smoking a cigar. In character (but with a not very convincing Chicago-Italian accent) he says "Swell fella... nice fella".
Note: this is a sound version of EP 163.
FILM ID:1022.02
A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT'S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES. www.britishpath...
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British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website. www.britishpat...

[@voicegirl555]

Happy Happy 120th Birthday to one of the greatest actors ever! I love all your films Charles Laughton! You never gave a bad performance.

[@HolgerRuneFan]

I think he's darling here.

[@francinebarr1204]

His Awesome ❤

[@maxreger100]

Just saw this referred to by Terry Teachout in the Wall Street Journal. Fascinating look at this special character in his element.

[@alpiston]

The things he did for England!