Claude Rains Books

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.

As a life-long film buff, I've long regarded Claude Rains as one of the finest screen actors in movie history. He stole every scene he was ever in and enlivened even the worst of his movies. His voice was incomparable, like "honey with a little gravel thrown in." In addition, there was his formal manner, the way he moved... the whole package was quite mesmerizing. Prior to this book, I had to glean my information on Claude from various Hollywood books and many interviews with the inimitable Bette Davis, who adored "my gorgeous Claude." I have to agree with Bette, Claude Rains was everything in a man that discerning women want: sweet, brilliant, a gentleman and sexy as hell. If you're a Claude-besotted soul, this book will please you enormously. The photos alone are worth the price, as are the all-too-brief recollections from his daughter. Excellent work on an essential actor.

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!

Claude Rains, A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference is the book Claude Rains fans have been waiting for for years. It starts off with a wonderful mini bio from his daughter, Jessica. Especially nice, is a charming story about them going to see 'The Invisible Man' together. The reader gets a sense of Claude Rains, the man as well as Claude Rains, the actor. Both are well worth reading about. There is a detailed synopsis for each movie with lots of little backround tidbits and loads of great photos. Also discussed, in less detail, is his stage, tv and radio career. The author says that the book is a 'labor of love' and it shows. If your a Claude Rains fan, and who isn't,buy the book... you'll love every minute of it.

The magazine compilations are full of wonderful photos and articles. And, not only for diehard MacDonald/Eddy fans, but for all the world to appreciate these two wonderful singers who have brought such joy and pleasure to a world that needs their contribution. A great purchase!

This is an odd and forgettable book filled with spectacularly bad writing, grammatical/spelling errors and a glaring lack of source material. There's not a single citation, footnote or bibliographical reference and this weakness cripples the project. From the foreward, it's apparent the author has a crush on Claude Rains (who doesn't?) and set out to write a "definitive" work on the actor. If this was the goal, then the results point to a spectacular failure.

First, there is the author's propensity for inventing dialogue between Claude and most of his six wives. Worse still, the dialogue is ludicrously written. A teenager's ramblings on a school folder would be more entertaining than this nonsense. Instead of the conversation sounding like something the real Claude Rains might actually have said, we're stuck with lines such as, "Boy, what's that cooking on the stove, darling? Potroaast with onions? Wow, that's great." Such nonsense would be more at home in the mouths of Ozzie and Harriet than Claude Rains.

Woven throughout there are elements of truth and the author did consult some legitimate interviews with Rains. The book is not a complete waste because there are some actual snippets from original articles scattered about. But in the end, the asinine dialogue, the lack of character analysis or any intelligence from the author sinks this book to the bottom of the sea. Hopefully it will remain buried there, unseen and unread.

This book needed a proof reader. A few segments were repeated and sometimes in a slightly differennt form, indicating portions of the draft were included with the "finished" copy. I liked the subject enough to overlook these shortcomings but just barely. Please, take the time to proof-read this before you print it again.

Having purchased this book under the impression that it was a legitimate biography of the great character actor, Claude Rains, I was disillusioned to discover that it is merely a collection of the author's files about the actor. Cohesive narrative, analysis of a magnificent career and humanity offered by the telling anecdote are all missing. Please save your money.