Robert Newton is fast becoming my newest fixation

[moon_custafer]

— I always feel sort of guilty and embarrassed when they change, but I suppose no long-dead actor, or even any living one, is harmed by my brain being fickle in its interests.

Anyhow, Newton was the main reason I watched Androcles and the Lion (1952) yesterday, although the presence of Alan “voice of Scrooge McDuck” Young, Elsa Lanchester, Jean Simmons, and Victor Mature certainly didn’t hurt. ETA —I am curious as to how it would have played with the original casting of Harpo Marx as Androcles. I supposed he would have talked.

Still trying to put my thoughts in enough order to write about it— I don’t think I’ll go read Shaw’s introductory essay (I assume he wrote one) because my experience is that I enjoy GBS’ plays better than his explanations of what he meant by them. My other early opinion is that Androcles/Lavinia/Ferrovius make a lovely platonic OTP.

also ETA — Just looked at the YouTube comments and woah, Shaw would definitely get a kick out of how many people this play script from 1912 is still angering. Roughly half insist it’s an insult to Christians, while the other half consider it Christian propaganda and are calling it out on that count. (And then there are a couple of people complaining that it’s boring and asking why it isn’t in colour like The Robe or Ben Hur). 

Comments

[sovay]

Robert Newton is fast becoming my newest fixation

I will try very seriously to write about the film I loved at the start of this month, although it may be in the queue behind something that sort of boggled me later. My brain and movies are difficult right now. (My brain and anything.)

[teenybuffalo]

I've been thriving on his performance in "Treasure Island" for many years. Between him and Boris Karloff in "The Bodysnatcher" I think I have a Type, and it's blatant villains with big teeth who beam and laugh and talk as if they sincerely like you while actively trying to murder you. I've been chasing that high ever since. Robert Newton was OK in "Around the World in 80 Days" but it's not worth seeking out for him; it's a relatively thankless role.

[kore]

Shaw would be REALLY smug about that, no doubt.