Actor Claude Rains (1889)

The American epic religious film, The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), recounts the Biblical tale of Jesus from his birth in Nazareth to his Ascension. It was produced and directed by George Stevens. A group of wise men (Magi) travel from Asia to Jerusalem after seeing a bright star, hoping to find the prophesied newborn king. King Herod is alerted of their arrival and is told about a Messiah mentioned in prophecies. Remembering that Bethlehem is the predicted birthplace, Herod sends the Magi there to confirm the child’s existence but secretly sends guards to keep an eye on them. In Bethlehem, they find Mary and ...

The British romantic drama film, The Passionate Friends (1949), was directed by David Lean. It follows the story of Mary on holiday in Switzerland while waiting for her husband Howard (Claude Rains) to join her from his business. It had been nine years since their last vacation, but also nine years since she last spoke to Steven, the man she loves and who happens to be staying in the neighboring room without her knowledge. The film then delves into flashbacks of their past relationship. Despite her love for Steven, Mary declines his proposal, believing that a marriage built on love would feel suffocating. Steven argues ...

Notorious (1946) is an American spy film noir directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, featuring an all-star cast including Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains. In April 1946, Alicia Huberman is recruited by government agent T.R. Devlin to infiltrate a group of escaped Nazis in Brazil. Despite initial resistance from Alicia, Devlin persuades her to help by revealing recordings of her heated arguments with her father and professing her love for America. The two ...

Based on Gaston Leroux’s novel and the 1925 film starring Lon Chaney, Phantom of the Opera (1943) is an American romantic horror film directed by Arthur Lubin. After revealing that he is losing the use of his left hand, violinist Erique Claudin is dismissed from the Paris Opera House. Despite facing financial struggles, he secretly funds voice lessons for Christine Dubois, a young soprano to whom he is devoted. Meanwhile, Inspector Raoul Dubert pressures Christine to leave the Opera and marry him, while famous opera ...

Casablanca (1942) is a romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz. The main characters, played by Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid, find themselves in the city of Casablanca during World War II. Rick Blaine, an American expatriate who runs ‘Rick’s Café Américain’, welcomes all types of patrons to his club – Vichy French officials, Nazi Germans, refugees seeking a way to the United States, and those looking to take advantage of ...

The American gothic horror film, The Wolf Man (1941), was both written by Curt Siodmak and produced and directed by George Waggner. Larry Talbot makes his way back to his ancestral home in Llanwelly, Wales, to attend his brother’s funeral and mend his relationship with his distant father, Sir John Talbot. During his time there, he becomes enamored with a local girl named Gwen Conliffe who owns an antique shop. To get closer to her, he purchases a walking stick adorned with a silver wolf’s head. This propels Gwen to tell him about the legend of the werewolf ...

The American science fiction horror film, The Invisible Man (1933), was directed by James Whale and produced by Universal Pictures. On a snowy evening in the English village of Iping, a stranger with bandaged face and dark goggles arrives at The Lion’s Head Inn. Despite demanding to be left alone, the stranger has caused chaos and fallen behind on rent due to his research. In response, Mrs. Hall sends her husband to evict him, but the stranger angrily throws Mr. Hall down the stairs. When confronted by a policeman and locals, he removes his bandages and goggles, revealing his invisibility. With maniacal laughter, ...