Elsa Lanchester talks about Charles Laughton

[@lolah3838]

She's so charming. I've always loved her voice.

[@sxnico]

the greatest!

[@jubalcalif9100]

She was a National Treasure ! Love her !

[@Jimbo.05]

What a charming lady. Agree, always loved her voice, so classy. Great character actress.

[@skellys1948]

What a pleasure to watch two literate, witty, and talented people discuss a time when movies were more than episodic CGI, and literacy was not a dirty word! What used to be...

[@mortalclown3812]

Tough to peer into the abyss of what modern entertainment's become. Media, too, for that matter. Realize it makes me the caricature old biddy, but hey. Old chicks know stuff.

[@julianmarsh8384]

So do us old roosters and I believe you are absolutely correct! About modern entertainment and the media, I mean...@@mortalclown3812

[@stellakowalski1]

@@mortalclown3812Yes we do!

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

Baby Boomers were the most well-educated generation. The entertainment industry will continue to get more basic as the uneducated population grows and grows.

[@michaelbarnhart2593]

Her beautiful face never changed over all the years. :-)

[@mckavitt]

Michael Barnhart I so agree, yet hers is not your typical beauty. But beauty i is.

[@sxnico]

my introduction to her as a child was I Love Lucy as the axe murderer! and shes always been marvelous

[@willywhitten4918]

*Charles Laughton was the best actor ever and his role as Quasimodo was the most perfect performance in one of the most perfect and amazing films ever made.* \\][//

[@shirleypena4133]

@ Willy Whitten I agree 100%!!!

[@TheSaltydog07]

Add director, "Night of the Hunter."

[@millriv1792]

I respectfully disagree although I love CL. Lon Chaney was at least as good in the early silent movie

[@dabneyoffermein595]

what was the name of the movie? tHoND?

[@jubalcalif9100]

Quasimodo would have made a great detective. He always had a hunch !

[@DRaymore44]

I still think of Elsa Lanchester as Katie Nanna in "Mary Poppins." Even though it was a small role, she gave excellent comedic timing about her tiredness and loathing of the Banks' children. I even like the scene where Mr. Banks helped Katie Nanna into a horse-drawn carriage. The sound Elsa made in contempt was hilarious. She also had a tiny part in an episode of "I Love Lucy," where Lucy and Ethel thought Elsa's character was an axe murderer on a car trip to Florida. Both girls were horrified to hear on the radio about this crazy woman, and they thought they were next. Elsa Lanchester portrayed herself as a charming, funny woman. I am glad Dick Cavett invited her to his show.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Her memoirs are FASCINATING, she came from a family of eccentric British blue bloods (who became Communist a century ago because Socialism was too softcore), knew the Bloomsbury Group, long & colourful history with Laughton, multi-talented herself (performed cabaret when she wasn't making movies), I must read it again sometime to catch up with all the history she regales. I think someone arranged for them to be reprinted, light read but RICH with people & stories.

[@44032]

She did more with small roles than any actor in history.

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@44032 agree. she was on screen for about 5 minutes in Bride of Frankenstein, first as Mary Shelley then as the Bride - but nobody ever forgot her.

[@kareninalabama]

That's one of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes. ❤

[@davidlamari4406]

What an absolutely spirited, captivating woman. I'm off to watch her movies.

[@russellwilliams1071]

I could/and do watch this very underrated actress films God bless you great lady x

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@russellwilliams1071 How is a legend underrated? They were still casting her in all-star comedies toward the end of her life.

[@julianmarsh8384]

@@unowen-nh9ov I guarantee many Americans of this Cavette time, only really knew her from the Frankenstein movie...and today...ask any young person about her. 'Who?'

[@damiennewyorker8105]

Elsa defined the Bride of Frankenstein, visually. Her deep dark eyes, her nose and the shape of her face made the "monster" so beautiful, yet haunting all at the same time.

[@Celisar1]

Damien Alexander Oh, I would love to see that film with her! So very unfortunate that these marvels never get shown anywhere anymore!

[@kennethmccamish4092]

I just watched Willard and thought, "Wait, who is that? I LOVE her! I'm going to look her up." I had no idea she was BoF. So glad to learn about her life and her hubby. Going to watch a ton of their films!

[@johnappleby405]

She also played Mary Shelley at the start of the film. Very attractive apart from being a talented actress even when made up as BoF she was hot!

[@damiennewyorker8105]

@@johnappleby405 she was John that's for sure

[@sxnico]

there is no other!

[@phtevlin]

Every time I've seen her on screen, I always got a superlative performance. She's a delight.

[@marksmith7425]

Laughton was the greatest actor ever and no one could possibly replace his superb acting skills.

[@Hexon66]

Yes, because there hasn't been another great acting performance in the last 60 years. You like his acting, we get it. But let's not pretend he was otherworldly.

[@johnlewis9745]

There may be a few as good, but certainly, there’s no-one better.

[@henrigaziel2002]

@@Hexon66He was otherworldly.

[@julianmarsh8384]

@@Hexon66 the man was damn good....I recently viewed his work in the unfinished movie about Claudius...who else could have played it as well?

[@susanb2015]

@@julianmarsh8384 He was in a movie in the early 30s. I forgot the name. Maureen O'Sullivan was his daughter. He killed his nephew for money and hid him in the backyard.

[@orion8835]

I have always adored everything this actress did. Such a talent.

[@jordanabeaulieu2530]

Daniel Raphael I saw her in the Bishop's wife with Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young. She was very young in the movie, maybe it was her first one.

[@Samalabear]

The Private Life of Henry VIII with Charles Laughton was way earlier than The Bishop's Wife. Around the time she did The Bishop's Wife she had also done "The Razor's Edge."

[@MacJaxonManOfAction]

@@Samalabear That was in 1933. Lanchester was literally making films with Evelyn Waugh in 1925. Which you can watch on here, I believe.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@jordanabeaulieu2530 No, Bride was a decade earlier & she'd worked with her husband previously as well.

[@stephenguppy7882]

I saw her and Laughton in Witness For The Prosecution only yesterday. Splendid film.

[@paulamiles9559]

Elsa is my favorite actress. Her autobiography is a great read. She doesn't pull any punches! I specially liked her in Witness for the Prosecution, Bell Book and Candle, The Razor's Edge and Murder by Death, the I Love Lucy episode, and her Night Gallery episode " Green Fingers". Her presence improves anything she was in.

[@wendellthomas464]

I haven't read the book but I am curious, doe she get into his sexuality? It apparently a hidden life.

[@paulamiles9559]

@wendellthomas464 yes she does. She and Charles loved each other and were well suited but she does discuss his love life outside the marriage .

[@Heisrisin3]

Wonderfully talented with a great sense of humor.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I certainly have a notion to second that emotion !

[@edisone1]

Let us thank the brilliant Mr.Cavett for SAVING his TV programs & then DONATING the huge collection ( over two thousand episodes) to the Library of Congress.

[@kelvinallen2624]

Charles Laughton born in my home town of Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

[@marydougherty6422]

Kelvin Allen b

[@gregherried5189]

Else Lanchester is one of my favorite character actresses of all time but I don't recall ever seeing her on a talk show before which is kind of strange since I always watched talk shows over the years. I loved her in The Spiral Staircase, Come to the Stable, Witness For the Prosecution and of course The Bride of Frankenstein among many other movies and TV shows. I even had a rare album she recorded called Elsa Lanchester Sings Bawdy Cockney Songs. And after 46 years I still remember those songs. The younger generation might know her as The Bride of Frankenstein or for her guest role on I Love Lucy as the woman who is hired by Lucy and Ethel to give them a ride to Florida. I also read her book and she is candid but very informative about the history of her movies. She was one of the best!

[@louisianahotsaucemichellee9636]

Yes but she was married to the very Gay Charles Laughton!

[@garybrockwell2031]

@@louisianahotsaucemichellee9636 think you spelt that wrong, the GREAT CHARLIE LAUGHTON 🎬🗣️🇬🇧💯🧐🤔

[@garybrockwell2031]

Greg you have good taste 🎬🗣️✌️💪as a LONDONER 🇬🇧💯 I'll be looking out for the the records 👍🧐😅🤩 Cheers👍😁👁️💥👁️❣️🥰

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@louisianahotsaucemichellee9636 I believe she stated in her memoirs that she became pregnant by him before they even married, obviously they didn't have a child, VERY GAY was much more fluid in those days, asking any former student of a British public or boarding school what a faggot is, it had a different meaning then.

[@lovelyweeburd]

Ooooooh I didn't know about her album! That sounds absolutely wonderful, I'll see if I can track it down :-)

[@allencajah1140]

I loved Mr. Laughton in 'Witness for the Prosecution' and Ms.Lanchester in 'Passport to Destiny'. Of course I loved all of their movies. Both were amazing professionals.

[@MrCristoforoantonio]

I agree 100%. They were both wonderful!! There are too many films to mention. She seemed very modest too. I like that.

[@joseph72588]

Your choice of films are spot on

[@michaelverbakel7632]

I loved her in the Walt Disney film with Hayley Mills, 'That Darn Cat'.

[@johnappleby405]

Really remarkable lady who had an incredibly long and distinguished life. Very sharp and articulate. If all she had ever done was Bride of Frankenstein she would always be remembered

[@danielflynn9141]

I never realized what a wonderful laugh she had. What a gorgeous woman!

[@filmidioten]

Elsa Lanchester is right up there together with Margaret Rutherford as the two greatest character actresses in cinematic history. Elsa would steal every movie she was in!

[@patriciamaeda852]

And Ethel Barrymore

[@arthursteven5601]

And thelma ritter

[@arthursteven5601]

@@patriciamaeda852 wonderful actress

[@esdee499]

And Joan greenwood

[@olgaferro2399]

She's a lady. Great. Charming. I loved her face and her beautiful voice.

[@madeleine8977]

She was a wonderful actress which I suspect her fellow actors knew.

[@peterpoutypuss]

I love Charles--he was such a class act and a giant of an actor! Even as a young boy I loved him in Spartacus and Mutiny on the Bounty.

[@stolenhal0]

Spartacus was his last film.

[@patcronenberg2334]

​@@stolenhal0no his last film was Advise and Consent

[@missmaggie2620]

When they created for screen version of Witness for the Prosecution they wrote the nurse character especially for her. Agatha Christie's book had no nurse. She loved Laughton & then he told her the truth. She stayed with him & never betrayed him. Much respect to this incredible lady.

[@seamlab8870]

Oh what a gift! I’m so glad they did that I was laughing my ass off with all his put-downs to Miss Plimsoll!

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

Yes, incredible lady. She accepted him as he was. They stayed married all their lives. Noble human beings.

[@MTknitter22]

Amazing how well-spoken and well-educated so many of the really fine actors were. Who cares if Cavett was asking more about Laughton, she seems fine with it. Glad back then there was no probing to discuss ultra-private matters. Good for them.

[@mckavitt]

Jane Eyre I suspect it was planned between them ahead of time.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

He introduces her mentioning she is on her way to a tribute for her husband.

[@paulamiles9559]

Charlotte Vale? What a great name! " The world is a very small place but Bahstahn is a big one".

[@peters1127]

I have been a fan of hers for decades, a wonderful actress and married to a superb actor . Seeing and lessoning her was an absolute joy.

[@M21L35]

Indeed, she really was a very classy madame of the cinema, wasn't she?

[@kabardinka1]

LOVE Elsa Lanchester. A fascinating and witty person.

[@jerryjones2897]

Charles laughton is without doubt in the top 10 of any great actor list.

[@Myplop]

Jerry Jones i

[@jubalcalif9100]

He was no Huntz Hall but the late great Mr Laughton was indeed a wonderfully gifted thespian.

[@rem2267]

Love her outfit, esp. the sandals matching the neckpiece. V. pretty, and that COLOR! You go, girl! A great lady. Thanks for uploading this clip!

[@HolgerRuneFan]

Can you imagine any living actress being this witty, articulate and interesting? She was one of a kind and despite being married to a gay man, she loved Charles, he loved her and they had an interesting relationship. She accepted Laughton's male lovers without comment and actually became close to a few of them in later years. Wonderful woman.

[@kevinwoplin9322]

Maybe Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet... None of the younger ones

[@richie9308]

During their marriage, she became pregnant with Charles child but she had an abortion.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

She was a lesbian. It was a marriage of convenience.

[@piddles11]

Been a favorite of mine for a long time

[@esmeephillips5888]

Fun fact: In her early days Elsa Lanchester ran a London nightclub and became friends with the fashionable intelligentsia. She appeared as a vamp in Evelyn Waugh's and John Sutro's comic home movie 'The Scarlet Woman', which survives.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Lanchester came from long line of eccentrics, which she inventories in her memoirs.

[@waltsudol7198]

A truly talented actress & a class act how I loved that woman such a warm caring person

[@Stephensorrentino]

thank God KZbin and the people that share these gems

[@timothymeehan181]

She’s wonderful. And we have Simon Callow to thank for so much of our understanding of Laughton; his biography, documentaries, etc. Fascinating stuff…🙏🎭

[@vintagebrew1057]

Simon's biography of Laughton was excellent.

[@cjb8010]

One of the best! And who can forget her role Mrs Grundy in I Love Lucy.

[@jckfmsincty]

She really should have won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 1957's "Witness for the Prosecution".

[@jubalcalif9100]

I heartily concur !

[@alidabaxter5849]

She was superb in that film!

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Lanchester was 1 of 6 Witness nominees, unusual for comedy performance to be acknowledged. Instead the Academy made history by awarding 1st Oscar to an Asian actress, Myoshi Umeki.

[@thebrideoffrankenstein2415]

I love her ....bring back classic movie actresses like her.......

[@brötzmannsax]

Wow, two of the greatest actors ever and I never knew they were married until now, you learn something everyday.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Not most people.

[@celebrityrog]

That move at 0:30 when she NEVER turns her back on the audience in order to sit down is not only phenomenal blocking, but the calling of an absolute true actor of the stage. Well done Miss Lanchester.

[@4pointedstar]

What is really astounding is that in her early days she was really pretty! Amazing to look at her early photos and films and see how she changed over the decades.

[@TeamJRob]

so impressed with her intelligence and demeanor

[@jubalcalif9100]

Indubitably ! She was a wonderfully witty woman !

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@jubalcalif9100 She'd have to be to amuse & be amused by her husband.

[@dafinker3443]

We adore Elsa and Laughton 👏🙏🏻👏🙏🏻

[@jamesdrynan]

A long and esteemed career. She was the perfect foil for Laughton in " Witness...Prosecution. " I loved her last line, " Sir Wilford! You've forgotten your brandy. "

[@315froggy]

People who are actually in show business at all levels, had good things to say about Cavett. I grew up watching mostly all of his interviews and wouldn't knock the guy after only seeing a few shows. The talent of the people who came on his show would not have continued to show up. They liked and trusted him.

[@ktkee7161]

And some didn't.

[@Lee-xs9ee]

Yeah but it was pretty much a downward spiral wasn't it? From CBS to PBS.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

@@Lee-xs9ee Creeper Charlie Rose?

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@ktkee7161 Name 'em.

[@GloriaCompton]

yes i love her. her and wendy hiller and agnes moorehead. great great players.

[@jubalcalif9100]

And don't forget the lovely & charming Hope Emerson (who co-starred in "Caged" with Agnes Moorehead).

[@jerryjones2897]

Few commenting here have a clue. Cavett was terrific at what he did. Lanchester is great here as she talks about her husband one of the greatest actors to ever be, Charles Laughton

[@patriciamaeda852]

So if people disagree they “don’t have a clue” …ok…

[@CharlesandElsafan]

Agreed re Maureen O'Hara - you do get that impression from her in interviews. I was lucky to get hold of a copy of Elsa's 1938 autobiography 'Charles Laughton and I' recently. It's a fascinating glimpse into the mind of early Elsa and her reflections on life with Charles up to that point.

[@briandelaney9710]

There is the old story of Elsa returning home late at night and finding Charles in “flagrante delicto” with a sailor and Elsa’s only protest was “well, we may need to replace the sofa “

[@sheilabrown5628]

A perfect English Rose, thorns at the ready! Blimey! Cannot love her more.

[@terryhorne2582]

Just loved watching Charles Laughton in any movie, ' The Suspect' was one of my favourites, for some reason I can't explain, he pulls me into the movie & I watch him with so much respect.

[@gobnaitaine5103]

You can't take your eyes off him, he had so much screen presence. Fantastic actor and one of my favourite movies too.

[@wrevflatwoods6225]

God she was just so cute!!!

[@gqjohnny]

Just watched Witness For The Prosecution again, what a great movie, two of film's great talents. She played a memorable villianess in an early Man From UNCLE episode.

[@kathybouchard1249]

I’ve always thought his performance as Quasimodo in the Hunchback of Norte Dame…was one of the greatest works of art ever on film.

[@stolenhal0]

The scene where he begs for water gets me every time. Also love when he spills the cauldrons over on the intruders below.

[@thomaslennon3658]

What an interesting lady, it's a shame no one can live forever.

[@annfinnegan2791]

She was a great actress

[@charleswinokoor6023]

A real lady. Smart, funny, unpretentious and classy. All of which are in short supply today.

[@vashnanerada8757]

Witness for the procecuton is one of my favourite films they both are in together she plays his nurse

[@jm7983]

A gracious, lovely woman.

[@Connorconnor24]

i love ELsa lanchester

[@dasgdasg]

Dick Cavett is a legend. Moreover, on watching the interview, I'm not sure what your issue is - he makes an occasional witty aside, but other than that, he mostly stays out of the way and lets the guest say what she has to say, and that seems like a good quality for an interviewer.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Lanchester is enjoying herself, he had her laughing repeatedly.

[@arundelmercure553]

I see Elsa was born in 1902. Wild to see her very spry talking to Dick in the early 70s. He had the most amazing guests.

[@fosbury68]

She was absolutely terrific in Bell, Book and Candle.

[@TheRexmoon]

i love her voice..so sweet...

[@orchardist1965]

I bet Charles had to watch his "p &q" with the wonderful forthright Elsa. What a great couple and how fortunate that there is a body of their work together for us to enjoy. Thank you.

[@thedativecase9733]

Charles was a Yorkshireman from Scarborough so he could probably deal with her. You know what they say "You can always tell a Yorkshireman but you can't tell him much..."

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@thedativecase9733 Dame Diana Rigg was from Yorkshire as well, before she attended RADA & worked with Olivier @ RSC, but she loved bringing back the accent & used it for her Dr. Who character, complete with alien clutching her busom.

[@disneyforthewin]

Absolutely adored her in bell,book, and candle

[@lasuvidaboy]

She was a fantastic actor!

[@whispperson]

This interview is Wonderfull. Thanks for this Posting

[@poetcomic1]

Does anyone remember Elsa from the 'I Love Lucy' episode about the 'ax murderer'?

[@pattimccord6372]

poetcomic1 yes I do, and she really scared me too.

[@lindaeasley4336]

That was an underrated classic

[@randysills4418]

Watercress sandwiches!

[@sharonjohnson1702]

I do

[@jenniferr9624]

I love that episode.

[@moviemonk1000]

Love those lines in " Witness"... " Sir Wilfred come up to bed now Wilfred " what a revolting thought." " No this is a bill for some rather becoming Bermuda Shorts " " If the barrister ...should fall off the bannister"

[@JonnyQ358]

Loved Elsa and Laughton in "Witness for the Prosecution" Also Loved Charles Laughton in "Hobson's Choice"..

[@BOWTIEREPPIN]

elsa was an amazing actress and also my Great Grandmother i wish i had only gotten the chance to meet her

[@charleswm.taylor4966]

Derek, Elsa had NO children. She could not possibly be your great grandmother. I knew Elsa well and her brother, Waldo, and his wife Muriel. Elsa left her estate worth eight hundred thousand dollars to the Hollywood Actor's Retirement home. Had she had children, grand children or great grand children, she would not have left them out of her will. She was a very kind and generous person.

[@WinkBlinkNod]

Charles Wm. Taylor Charles Wm. Taylor I heard she also left considerable amounts of money to her accompanist, her assistant and even her gardener! Very generous of her! How did you end up getting to know her so well?

[@edwardanthony7283]

Charles was a brilliant actor. One of a kind.

[@TheNeonRabbit]

The Bride of Frankenstein was married to the Hunchback of Notre-Dame?

[@marksmith7425]

No two completely different films

[@b_uppy]

Thats true, lol.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

So the Bride of Frankenstein actually married the Hunchback of Notre Dame. That was crazy. I grew up with her in Disney films and didn't know until way into adulthood that dingy lady from the Disney movies and who also had "Green Fingers" was both the Bride to Frankenstein and The Hunchback. What a surprise that was. We need more people with spirit like hers!

[@richardm239]

shes wonderful that laugh wicked

[@joseph72588]

Mr. Singer "dropped a stitch"....brilliant.

[@donitaforrest9064]

As an actor, i adored Charles Laughton. So talented.

[@Magnetron33]

OMG! What a great interview! She was a reall hoot! Never seen this side of her.

[@moontheloon5]

She was also a hoot in that darn cat as the nosy neighbor.

[@SuperC888]

Her performance in Witness for the Prosecution was astounding and so fun to watch!! She won Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for her performance. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@davecollins2956]

Top actress, honest person.

[@MrGadfly772]

Elsa was such a charming woman. I didn't know her of course but I still miss her. She was very modest and too willing to defer to Charles, she was really quite marvelous. She is so right too. Nobody seems to understand that the bride disliked the monster.

[@willmpet]

Laughton was in “The Epic that never was” and was wonderful

[@mauricioortiz9895]

Elsa always elegant and timelessly attired, in this case wearing a magnificent priceless pre-columbian solid gold pendant of a golden eagle and the type usually found in burials in the jungles of Colombia or Costa Rica. (These pieces were created in the lost wax method and are considered treasure.) Nowadays one can purchase small gold plated replicas of these in pre-columbian gold museums-not so much in those days. There are numerous national heritage gold and jade pieces quietly held in private collections around the World, as recent laws now imply a jail sentence for possession of these artifacts. In any case Elsa looking very cool.

[@TheTamblina]

fab interview..wonderful lady & actress..x

[@Eyelashviper]

Sultry, even as a character in a horror film. RIP.

[@sergiotilleria1190]

I lover elsa, beatiful actress, from Chile with affecion.

[@johnduncan4725]

Yep 7 minutes about my limit for Cavette. Elsa great!

[@christinaarcher3341]

Magnificent woman as per usual).

[@bobbydigital8]

She was beautiful!

[@pootdaggy2657]

I always thought she was attractive but I REALLY like her laugh.

[@jameshollyelsa]

A rael find, one of kind this lady, she is and always will be my favourite actress!

[@mari-greciaodal2436]

Did you guys ever see her as the bride of the Frankenstein monster? She was PERFECT for the role!

[@AdIgnorantiam]

I just recently realized she plays Katie Nana in Mary Poppins! I couldn't believe it.... growing up, I NEVER realized Katie Nana was played by Bride of Frankenstein.

[@toddcanton9537]

lovely and interesting woman who has made a significant impression on Hollywood films.....

[@akumar7366]

Wonderful English a actress .

[@flashtheoriginal]

What a lovely, confident lady. She was a fine actress, a loyal wife and a model Englishwoman. In my country we always hear about Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Morton Downey Jnr.....but I want to see more of Dick Cavett, he is really engaging. Is he still popular in America?

[@henochparks]

she was great in Bell Book and Candle

[@thebrideoffrankenstein2415]

Very one of my most favorite films...

[@amafirenze-vi1uh]

1:42 I think Elsa's giggling when Cavett said she was Laughtons nurse in a movie, tells a lot about their marriage.