Universal Monsters - Part 1

Halloween is just a couple of weeks away, and if, like me, you enjoy watching the old "Universal Monsters" movies, you may be making connections between some of those movies and various adaptations of "A Christmas Carol."

For example, the great Claude Rains, who recorded a version of "A Christmas Carol" for Mercury Records in 1954, starred in a few of the monster movies earlier in his career.

In fact, his movie debut was in the title role of 1933's "The Invisible Man."

Rains gives a great performance in that film, which is all the more impressive since (SPOILER) you don't actually even see his face until the very end!

Since this was his first film, he doesn't get top-billing (as seen in the poster at the top), but later reissues emphasize his now-famous name:

I wonder where the little inset photo of a visible, pistol-packing Rains came from?

He also headlines a sort-of all-star cast in 1941's "The Wolf Man" (my favorite!), in which he portrays Sir John Talbot, the father of the lycanthropic Larry Talbot.

I hear/read all the time about the lack of a familial resemblance between Claude Rains and Lon Chaney, Jr., which can't be denied, but do cinematic families ever really look alike? And Rains lends a ton of gravitas to the proceedings, so I'm really glad he's there!

Rains had the title role (but was third-billed) in Universal's big 1942 remake of the "Phantom of the Opera":

I think this one is somewhat underrated. Modern viewers don't think it's monster-y enough, but you need to watch it as mid-1940s entertainment and not worry about how it fits into the whole "Universal Monsters" scene!

Of further note is that Universal actually dabbled a bit with Dickens adaptations back at that time, including "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" starring Claude Rains from 1935:

Universal also produced a version of "Great Expectations" in 1934:

Of even further note is that the adult Pip in that movie was portrayed by Phillips Holmes, who was the son of Taylor Holmes, the Scrooge from the 1949 TV version of "A Christmas Carol" hosted by Vincent Price!

It all comes back around!

A Christmas Carol - Claude Rains (1954) - (Belated) Part 4

Way back when (here, here and here) I had discussed the 1954 recording of "A Christmas Carol" by Claude Rains for Mercury Records.

Since then I came across this EP (extended play 45 rpm record) that puts the two parts of that record on one side with the two parts of his record of "The Christmas Tree" (also from 1954) on the other side.

I'm guessing it's a reissue, so from a bit later than 1954.

What I find interesting is that the cover doesn't mention Claude Rains at all, although the back says nice things about him:

If the suits at Mercury wanted parents to buy this for their kids, wouldn't they want to promote the idea that a highly respected actor was involved?

The cover is also intriguing because it seems to represent a reformed Scrooge entering the Cratchit house with Tiny Tim, so this scene would take place after the book. 

And I love the kitty joining in the fun!

As a bonus here's Mr. Rains with "The Christmas Tree":

A Christmas Carol - Claude Rains (1954) - Part 3

Let's take a look at the talent behind the Mercury Records version of "A Christmas Carol" by Claude Rains from 1954.

Claude Rains himself always gave a good performance. I've seen him in a ton of movies and he always adds a lot. He's probably best-known these days for his role in "Casablanca." I think he steals that movie and that's a lot to say with the talent involved. "Round up the usual suspects!"

My favorite movie of his is probably "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" from 1941, where he plays a high ranking official in Heaven. A neat contrast to this is "Angel on My Shoulder" from 1946, in which he plays the Devil himself! There's the two extremes of Scrooge right there!

The adaptation of the story for the record is very creative and the music and choral background are excellent. A look at the label explains why.

Awesome logo!

The adaptation is shown as by Hugo Perreti and Luigi Creatore, cousins who formed a highly creative production team from the 50s through the 70s known as "Hugo & Luigi."

Rockabilly Party? I'm in!

They released some singles under their own name, for their label Roulette Records then later RCA Victor, but they mainly kept busy producing other artists. And quite successfully!

As this is not the most famous version of the story ever, there's not an awful lot of information available about this record, but I do find some inconsistencies with the date it was recorded and issued. I've seen it listed as early as 1946 and as late as 1960. But  checking with a Mercury Records discography, 1954 is the correct year. This also matches up with the time period that Hugo & Luigi were at Mercury.

By 1960, they were at RCA Victor, working with Sam Cooke on such hits as "Chain Gang!"

I'm so glad little gems like this version of "A Christmas Carol" are out there and I'm often impressed with the talent and creativity that went into making "kiddie records" back in the day!

A Christmas Carol - Claude Rains (1954) - Part 2

If you got the chance to listen to the 1954 recording of "A Christmas Carol" by Claude Rains, I'm sure you will agree that it's an unusual treatment!

If you haven't, then beware of SPOILERS!

This was originally two sides of a standard 10-inch 78 rpm record. You could get three minutes and change on one side, so it's a tall order to get the whole story on there.

Instead of a dramatization, it's a solo performance by Claude Rains as Scrooge. He relates the story as if it has already happened. What makes it wacky is that his conscience (also voiced by Rains through a filtered microphone) is egging him on!

Scrooge narrating the story makes me think of Ronald Colman again, as his Scrooge is also relating events that have already taken place.

But as this version here is not a dramatization, we have a reformed Scrooge throughout. Claude Rains could play evil characters quite well, but we only hear his nice Scrooge, as he does not illustrate his evil ways.

On Side 1, Scrooge sets the scene by mentioning that his clerk, Bob Cratchit, had left the counting house. Then when Scrooge went home he had a dream.

There's no mention of Jacob Marley here at all.

The Ghost of Christmas Past appears and shows Scrooge a point in the past where he was at a Christmas party, smiling and happy, as he hasn't been since. Hard to say when this was. He says he was a young man, but with a group of youngsters.

Whatever the case, the side ends after just under two and a half minutes. The ghost's "time grows short," indeed!

Flip the record over and Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Present. This is the only spirit he describes. He says he's a giant with a torch in his hand. No surprise that the spirit takes Scrooge to Bob Cratchit's house.

This is the longest sequence. Scrooge mentions that Bob has three children and describes Tiny Tim and quotes his famous line. Scrooge is ashamed that he pays Bob such a meager salary and is not surprised that "a pall fell over the festivities" when Mrs. Cratchit mentioned his name.

The Ghost of Christmas Present appears next and he shows Scrooge his tombstone, with no one to mourn for him. Scrooge begs for a chance to change his ways.

The ghost vanishes and Scrooge is back in his room on Christmas morning. He gives a sack of gold to a passing boy to buy the biggest goose (not turkey) he can find and send it to Bob Cratchit.

Scrooge wishes us a Merry Christmas and reminds us what Tiny Tim remarked.

A little over three minutes for the flipside, so the whole thing clocks in at about five and a half minutes.

So, a snappy little trip through the story and well done, I say!

A Christmas Carol - Claude Rains (1954) - Part 1

A Christmas Carol (1954)
Adaptation: Hugo Peretti & Luigi Creatore
Scrooge: Claude Rains

In keeping with the theme of famous British actors making recordings of "A Christmas Carol," we check out this deep cut from Claude Rains on Mercury Records in 1954.

A sensationalized reissue poster!

Claude Rains, of course, was a brilliant actor with a long line of memorable roles starting with "The Invisible Man" in 1933. Who else could command the screen so well when you couldn't even see him?

As I mentioned when discussing the 1935 mover "Scrooge" starring Sir Seymour Hicks, I often see Claude Rains credited as playing (or at least voicing) Marley's Ghost, whom you don't see, in that film. I don't think that's correct. It doesn't even sound like him, and why would he be using a different voice in a low-budget British film when he was already a star in Hollywood?

Is the root of this simply that Marley's Ghost is invisible and Claude Rains had played, well you-know-who!

In any event, he definitely did portray Scrooge on this interesting record from 1954. As evidenced by the label, it was for the kiddie market.

It's an unusual treatment of the story. I won't say anything more right now, in case you haven't heard it and would like to.

Give it a listen:

Next: Let's discuss!