Charles Laughton in Old Time Radio

Charles Laughton
(1899 – 1962)

That Clark Gable was one of the best looking things in Hollywood during the mid 1930s is beyond dispute. Naturally, producers wanted to emphasize this so that Gable would help to put audiences in seats across the country. How could they do this? The obvious way is to give him great roles to play and beautiful co-stars to play with. Another is to cast him opposite one of the most unattractive character players you can find. That tactic certainly worked in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) with Charles Laughton.

To say Charles Laughton was less than attractive may seem unkind, but it was a characteristic that the actor acknowledged and made the most of. Even that would have meant little if not for the fact that Laughton was also an incredibly brilliant and talented actor.

Laughton was born in in Scarborough, Yorkshire, in 1899, where his family owned a hotel. Charles worked in the hotel briefly before being sent to Stonyhurst College. It was expected that Charles would join and perhaps take over the family business after graduating, but two factors would block those plans. The first was the Great War, Laughton served with the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion and was gassed in France.

The other factor was that Charles discovered a love of acting while in college. After the War, he entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and made his professional debut at the Barnes Theatre in 1926. While appearing in Mr Prohack in 1927, he began a serious relationship with cast member Elsa Lanchester. Charles and Elsa were married in 1929, and would act together on several occasions, both on stage and screen.

Elsa and Charles began their film careers in a trio of short silent films which H.G. Welles had written especially for Elsa, Daydreams, Blue Bottles and The Tonic, all shot in 1927. Laughton made his North American debut in 1931 at the Lyceum Theater on Broadway, and almost immediately offers from Hollywood began rolling in. His first American film was The Old Dark House (1932) with Boris Karloff, and in 1933 he starred in The Private Life of Henry VIII with Elsa. Filmed in Britain, it would be the first non-Hollywood film to win an Academy Award, Laughton winning the Oscar for Best Actor, and the film was nominated for Best Picture. Laughton would reprise the role in Young Bess (1953).

His success in Henry VIII helped to establish Laughton as a leading interpreter of historic and costume roles, and he was often type cast as arrogant, unscrupulous characters. This led to his role as Captain William Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty with Clark Gable, and as Quasimodo in RKO's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). Laughton was less than enthused to accept the Hunchback role, perhaps due to his own less than attractive appearance the character hit a little close to home. However, the RKO offer came when Laughton's production company was in dire straits and he needed the money.

Laughton's mellifluous speaking voice made him a natural for radio, and like many movie actors he made the rounds of Lux Radio Theater, Theatre Guild of the Air and Gulf Screen Guild Theater in support of his films. He was also a popular guest on Suspense. In an interesting episode of "radio's outstanding theater of thrills", Laughton reprised his role of Captain Bligh. Where Mutiny on the Bounty was filled with historical inaccuracies (as expected for a movie based on a novel about history rather than history itself), the "Revenge of Captain Bligh" script for Suspense was based on William Bligh's own logs. Laughton would also show considerable comedic talent on Sealtest Variety Theater, Duffy's Tavern, The Alan Young Show and The Charlie McCarthy Show.

After enjoying moderate success as a stage director, Laughton directed one film, The Night of the Hunter (1955), starring Robert Mitchum. The edgy film is based on the true story of a serial killer and pays homage to the German expressionist filmmakers of the 1920's. In retrospect, the film has been recognized as one of the best films of the 1950's, and many in the cast said that Laughton's style and willingness to listen to input from his actors made it their favorite Hollywood experience. However, the film was not a commercial success at the time of its release, and the only movie Charles Laughton directed.

Charles and Elsa remained married for the rest of his life. The couple did not have children, there is speculation that this is due to Laughton's bisexuality, although there is also evidence that Elsa was not able to conceive. Charles Laughton died in December 15, 1962, from cancer of the kidneys at the age of 63. A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Blvd honors Charles Laughton's contributions to Motion Pictures.