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If this has been remarked upon, explained or discussed in any film history book, periodical or website, I've never found it. But maybe some of you remarkable cinema scholars are aware of this phenomenon and can even shed some light on it.
The Charles Laughton HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939), directed by William Dieterle, has recently been restored, and I had the pleasure of seeing it projected at this year's TCM Film Festival. And again, the other night, in a broadcast on the network. A BluRay has also just been released.
I don't know if I ever would have spotted this on my own but, some years ago, after I'd loved the film since childhood, a friend astonished me by pointing out to me on video that a couple of the movie's distinguished cast members, Thomas Mitchell and George Tobias, in addition to their main credited roles, fill in uncredited on a few bit parts.
The only other instance of an actor doubling without credit that I'm aware of in a major motion picture is Woody Strode in the 1956 TEN COMMANDMENTS. I think DeMille was doing the actor a favor, but I'll have to check Katherine Orrison's book WRITTEN IN STONE to confirm that. Why Mitchell and Tobias donned the other characters' costumes and make-up for Dieterle, I haven't a clue.
Mandeley? Ray? Anyone?
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Don't I count as "anyone"?
As I said, I saw the restored print on a big theatre screen at the TCM festival, and again on TCM itself. You won't be disappointed.
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SNAFU
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SNAFU II
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Posted: |
May 20, 2015 - 7:09 AM
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By: |
CinemaScope
(Member)
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Don't I count as "anyone"?
...but...you said bugger all about it, did you
I hope it looks good, RKO weren't that great when it came to looking after their masters, so this release came as a pleasant surprise. I wonder what the state of play is with that other RKO Dieterle masterpiece, All That Money Can Buy (aka The Devil & Daniel Webster, but I think that's a slightly cut down version), I'd love to think that it's getting the treatment, as long as there's some decent elements surviving.
Also looking forward to Dodge City, the DVD looked a bit rough, & I understood that it would need an expensive restoration, so I wasn't expecting it at all.
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All I can bug -- er, say is that it looked great to me on the Chinese Theater screen, and it was as magnificently moving as ever.
***
Thanks, Ray, for the info, and for the visuals.
I'd still love to know the "why" behind the HUNCHBACK portrayals. Especially in the Thomas Mitchell bit. It may have made financial sense to use an actor already on the payroll than hire another thespian, but you'd think that using another actor would have spared them the trouble and expense of hiding Mitchell's identity beneath a ton of make-up...
Yes, indeed, Tobias did three bits, hence my reference to "triple" in this thread title. Do we all know what part Thomas Mitchell played, and did you always know it before I posted this thread? As I mentioned, somebody had to draw my attention to it before I realized what was going on, and now it's one of my favorite moments in the film. I love the rare treat of seeing Mitchell flexing actor and characterization muscles -- different voice, different posture, different look, etc. -- that he was rarely if ever called upon to utilize in his other film roles. It makes one reflect on how much theatrical skill went untapped even in those golden age days. As wonderful as all the great character actors were in those movies, they possessed great versatility which they probably could have displayed more often if they were performing in a stage repertory company.
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Nobody likes a show-off, Ray. Seriously, I'm not surprised that you beat me to the punch in spotting these guys. Your powers of observation never cease to impress. As much of a know-it-all as I am, when I DON'T know something it's always to you and Manderley that I turn, and obviously this thread is a case in point.
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Well, I must say I'm impressed with both of my dear old friends, you and Ray, because I've never heard of Sam Harris. My hat is off to you!
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Thanks, Ray, but --
I'm afraid that I'm still not sure I recognize his face from the three stills that you've posted here. Is there some place where I can read up on this chap, or at least see more images?
***
After writing the above, I looked him up at IMDB. What an amazing roster is his resume, including a ton of movies I have indeed seen -- CITIZEN KANE, anyone? -- proving the truth of your most recent post. (Is that gambling still from MR. LUCKY, one of my favorite movies?)
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