Open Happy Birthday Thread: Ronald Colman

Open thread?

I'm having other thoughts about another movie.

I'd wait until I wasn't first to post here, but I have a job to get to!

PREDICTION — Early in February '11, you will hear this: "After the devastating blizzards of 2010, the people of Washington really deserve this Redskins Super Bowl victory" (I hope, anyway).

"10-20 inches" expected tonight. The D.C. National Guard was called out this a.m.

Tale of Two Cities, Lost Horizon…God, what a voice! I love Ronald Colman!

Random Harvest you'd have to be philistine for that movie not to grab you wonderful movie.. The Prisoner of Zenda another favorite. Great cast and Colman was never more dashing.

RONALD COLMAN!! – discovered him through my love of A Tale of Two Cities – beautifully played Sydney Carton!! In the days before Amazon.com, I looked all over for his radio broadcasts (was it called Halls of Ivy???) Anyway, lovely voice, and lovely man.

Love Ronald Colman and that smooth distinctive voice!

His best part was in A Double Life. I particularly enjoyed the scene where he strangles Shelley Winters. He won an Academy Award for it. Good. For that gesture alone, he deserves some kind of reward!

Ah, yes, Ronald Coleman. You can see, or hear, his lighter side as Jack Benny's next-door neighbor on Benny's long-running radio show. Coleman and his wife, Benita, stole the show whenever they were on.

Fun fact: It was Ronald Coleman's Oscar that Benny borrowed when he was held up by a robber. who said "Your money or your life!" Benny's response was the famous, "I'm thinking it over!"

Love him in anything, but particularly The Prisoner of Zenda and A Tale of Two Cities. For a rollicking read about the making of Zenda, check out David Niven's book "Bring on the Empty Horses" sometime. Laugh out loud funny.

For a wonderfully different Ronald Coleman, search out his guest appearances on the Jack Benny radio show from the 40's and 50's. He and his wife Benita's are some of my favorite episodes.
http://www.archive.org/details/JackBenny19451947
For a sample, listen to 460414, 461107, 470217, and 470427. They are great and listening to the Lucky Strike commercials is worth it alone. Jack Benny and 'Ronnie and Benita'! Doesn't get any better!

I like the Prisoner of Zenda along with Tale of Two Cities and Lost Horizons. The thing about Zenda was that David Niven was on the Verge of Stardom and was recalled to the Army. He was a Sandhurst Grad. And well it Was World War II. After the War, a lot of the Black and White Classics were remade in Color. Of all the remakes Prisoner of Zenda held up well and can stand on its own. Ronald Colman was one of the great actors of any generation.

Who is Scarmouche and why does he wear that mask?

Just two words: Shangri La

A Toast To The World By Ronald Colman:

I propose a toast to the world. A world which has just survived the bloodiest and costliest of all human conflicts. A world which was so nearly led back to the Dark Ages of oppression and slavery by cruel and greedy men who traded in Hate. It seems impossible that there could be any more suffering than Mankind has just endured. But it is possible and it will happen if we lose sight of the lessons so bitterly learned. Let us remember that Men everywhere are our neighbors and their right to Life and Freedom is as precious to them as ours is to us. So here's a toast to all the people in the World: May we, by working together for a lofty purpose and with God's Help, achieve The Goal that Mankind for twenty centuries has striven for: "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men".

Ronald Colman, December 23, 1945, on The Jack Benny Show

Nice… Very nice indeed Brother.

Your compliment is much appreciated.

Stay Strong, Brave and Beautiful for America.

See you at the movies !

I'm not sure what it is, but that man has it.

Ronald Colman saved sound movies: Sound was in big trouble in 1929 because of a series of boring sound films that didn't move.(the sound camera was bolted to the ground and dialogue scenes tended to be long and boring) Then came "BULLDOG DRUMMOND", Colman's first sound film.(What a voice!) Written by Sidney Howard("Gone With The Wind"), shot by Gregg Toland("Citizen Kane") and designed by William Cameron Menzies.("Gone With The Wind") It's arguably the first James Bond film.

Sounds like an interesting film. I'll have to check it out, thanks.

Thx for posting that. I read it out loud and my neighbors stopped fighting.

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