Reviews
" Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice seeks to shine the spotlight on one of the sharpest and most elegant stars of classical Hollywood cinema.... Skal has presented and organized a treature trove of material with methodical acuity. [A] lucid and informative biography." -- Scope, "Well-researched, competently written biography of the English actor." -- Robert Nott, Santa Fe New Mexican, ""This highly readable biography, written with the help of his daughter, Jessica Rains, reeals the witty, talented man behind this universally respected Hollywood legend."-- Larry Cox, Tuscan Citizen" --, "This highly readable biography, written with the help of his daughter, Jessica Rains, reveals the witty, talented man behind this universally respected Hollywood legend." -- Larry Cox, Tucson Citizen, ""[Claude Rains] was perfect. There's a very small group of actors who seemingly never made a mistake: Walter Huston, Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda, and Claude Rains."--Roddy McDowall " --, ""Most movie stars eventually are forgotten, and almost all character actors are, but the reputation of Claude Rains has survived for more than 40 years since his death. David Skal's biography, written with Rains' daughter, probably will provoke even more welcome -- and justified -- reassessments of his gifts."--Scott Eyman, Cox News Service" --, ""It's a fast, compelling read, leaving readers to reach their own conclusions."--Expressionmilwaukee.com" --, "This highly readable biography, written with the help of his daughter, Jessica Rains, reeals the witty, talented man behind this universally respected Hollywood legend." -- Tuscan Citizen, "A comprehensive, breezily written guide to a consummate gentleman and an ever-diligent pro." -- The Post and Courier, "Well-researched, competently written biography of the English actor." -- Robert Nott, Sante Fe New Mexican, ""[Claude Rains] was perfect. There's a very small group of actors who seemingly never made a mistake: Walter Huston, Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda, and Claude Rains."--Roddy McDowall" -- Roddy McDowall, Claude Rains was a consummate actor whose remarkable life and career has been covered in fascinating detail in this book., [Claude Rains] was witty, amusing, and beautiful. And thoroughly enchanting to be with. And brilliant., This highly readable biography, written with the help of his daughter, Jessica Rains, reeals the witty, talented man behind this universally respected Hollywood legend., The book has an excellent appendix detailing Rain's theatre and film work, and a good bibliography and index., Most movie stars eventually are forgotten, and almost all character actors are, but the reputation of Claude Rains has survived for more than 40 years since his death. David Skal's biography, written with Rains' daughter, probably will provoke even more welcome--and justified--reassessments of his gifts., "It's a fast, compelling read, leaving readers to reach their own conclusions." -- Expressionmilwaukee.com, ""Claude Rains was a consummate actor whose remarkable life and career has been covered in fascinating detail in this book"--Kevin Brownlow" -- Kevin Brownlow, "It's a fast, compelling read, leaving readers to reach their own conclusions." -- Expressmilwaukee.com, "Claude Rains was a consummate actor whose remarkable life and career has been covered in fascinating detail in this book." -- Kevin Brownlow, ""Well-researched, competently written biography of the English actor."--Robert Nott, Sante Fe New Mexican" --, ""A comprehensive, breezily written guide to a consummate gentleman and an ever-dlligent pro."--The Post and Courier" --, "A comprehensive, breezily written guide to a consummate gentleman and an ever-dlligent pro." -- Post and Courier, ""[Claude Rains] was witty, amusing, and beautiful. And thoroughly enchanting to be with. And brilliant."--Bette Davis" --, ""Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice seeks to shine the spotlight on one of the sharpest and most elegant stars of classical Hollywood cinema.... Skal has presented and organized a treature trove of material with methodical acuity. [A] lucid and informative biography."--Scope" --, [Claude Rains] was perfect. There's a very small group of actors who seemingly never made a mistake: Walter Huston, Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda, and Claude Rains., "Most movie stars eventually are forgotten, and almost all character actors are, but the reputation of Claude Rains has survived for more than 40 years since his death. David Skal's biography, written with Rains' daughter, probably will provoke even more welcome -- and justified -- reassessments of his gifts." -- Scott Eyman, Cox News Service, ""The book has an excellent appendix detailing Rain's theatre and film work, and a good bibliography and index."--Mary of Many Colors" --, "[Claude Rains] was witty, amusing, and beautiful. And thoroughly enchanting to be with. And brilliant." -- Bette Davis, ""[Claude Rains] was perfect. There's a very small group of actors who seemingly never made a mistake: Walter Huston, Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda, and Claude Rains."--Roddy McDowall" --, ""Claude Rains was a consummate actor whose remarkable life and career has been covered in fascinating detail in this book"--Kevin Brownlow" --, "The book has an excellent appendix detailing Rain's theatre and film work, and a good bibliography and index." -- Mary of Many Colors, "[Claude Rains] was perfect. There's a very small group of actors who seemingly never made a mistake: Walter Huston, Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda, and Claude Rains." -- Roddy McDowell, ""[Claude Rains] was witty, amusing, and beautiful. And thoroughly enchanting to be with. And brilliant."--Bette Davis" -- Bette Davis, Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice seeks to shine the spotlight on one of the sharpest and most elegant stars of classical Hollywood cinema.... Skal has presented and organized a treature trove of material with methodical acuity. [A] lucid and informative biography.