#lynn redgrave

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GEORGY GIRL (1966) dir. Silvio Narizzano

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Lynn Redgrave (right) in 1959 with brother Corin, father Michael, and mother Rachel (Kempson).

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"The Turn of the Screw", 1974 dir. Dan Curtis

Thriller Video VHS, hosted by Elvira

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Lynn Redgrave in "The Happy Hooker" (dir. Nicholas Sgarro - 1975).

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Remembering Lynn Redgrave 🌹🕊️on her Birthday 🎂

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1975.

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It's Saturday and Hellzapoppin

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Gods and Monsters (1998)

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Based on the Christopher Bram novel Father of Frankenstein, this period drama film from writer/director Bill Condon is a semi-fictionalized account of the final days of world-famous film director James Whale, known for directing the pre-Code horror film Frankenstein and its sequel Bride of Frankenstein in the 1930s.

A distinguished cast includes: Sir Ian McKellen as James Whale, Brendan Fraser as ex-Marine/gardener Clayton Boone (a fictitious character) and Lynn Redgrave as Hungarian housekeeper Hanna.

Ian McKellen (whose marvelous performance garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Actor) is one of the greatest thespians of our time who doesn’t disappoint in his startling portrayal of a dapper though ailing filmmaking legend. Brendan Fraser, typically known for his comedic chops, makes it crystal-clear that he is just as capable in dramatic roles. Lynn Redgrave (who, like Ian McKellen, received an Oscar nomination for her scintillating performance) is nothing short of extraordinary in the role of a devoted, albeit dour, caretaker.

The script (which won the Oscar for Beat Adapted Screenplay) is well-written in tackling the conflict of coming to terms with old age and diminished capacity. The film demonstrates this through flashbacks of James Whale’s working-class childhood, service in World War I and Old Hollywood glamour whilst experiencing mini-strokes and seizures.

In terms of observing the complicated friendship between a retired filmmaker and a young man with his whole life ahead of him, Mr. Whale takes a great interest in Clayton, the latter of whom is initially skeptical of his employer’s homosexual desires. However, despite the separation of sexual orientation, this uneasy yet poignant connection changes both their lives forever.

Bill Condon’s creative direction allows him to visually convey the real and imagined sensibilities of James Whale, whose flair for horror left an indelible mark on the film industry. Although warm reception of the British in Hollywood was customary during the talkie era, James Whale’s open gayness was the subject of controversial debate in a civilized yet closeted society. Through his declining health, Mr. Whale views Clayton as a guy whose God-like physique stands out from the other young men in his life. What’s more, he sees Clayton as his own monster of Frankenstein, specifically one that could give him the perfect ending to his latest drama. Clayton, who had been disillusioned about his future after being discharged from the Marines, achieves a newfound sense of hope through his admiration for James Whale’s artistic talent.

Lastly, the finer details of the film may be fabricated, but there are definitely interwoven truths about the story of James Whale’s life. All in all, I certainly recommend this hidden gem of a movie to every Ian McKellen/Universal Monsters fan.

“To a new world of gods and monsters!”

-Dr. Pretorius (Bride of Frankenstein)

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Lynn Redgrave was born on this day of March 8th in 1943. The British born actress, daughter of Michael Redgrave, and younger sister of Vanessa, won two Golden Globe Awards and may be best remembered for the movie, “Georgy Girl”. She died in 2010 at age 67.

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Films Watched in 2023:

09. Spider (2002) - Dir. David Cronenberg

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Birthday remembrance - Lynn Redgrave #botd

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Jasper Jacob as "Miles"

The Turn of the Screw, 1974

Dir. Dan Curtis

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Lynn Redgrave, March 8, 1943 – May 2, 2010.

Desmond Davis’s Girl with Green Eyes (1964).

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Remembering Lynn Redgrave 🌹🕊️on her Birthday 🎂