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Colin Clive

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Colin Clive (20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British stage and screen actor best remembered for his portrayal of Dr. Frankenstein in James Whale's two Universal Frankenstein films Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein.

Birth and Early Life

Clive was born in St. Malo, France to a British colonel, and he attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where an injured knee disqualified him from military service and contributed to his becoming a stage actor. On stage, one of his roles was Steve Baker, the white husband of racially mixed Julie LaVerne, in the first London production of Show Boat. This production also featured Sir Cedric Hardwicke, and Paul Robeson. Clive first worked with James Whale in the Savoy Theatre production of Journey's End and subsequently joined the British community in Hollywood in the 1930s, repeating his stage role in the 1930 film version of Journey's End, which was directed by Whale.

Hollywood

Colin Clive made only three horror motion pictures but he is widely regarded as one of the essential stars of the genre by many film buffs, particularly because of his work in the Frankenstein films. His portrayal of mad Dr. Frankenstein has proved inspiration and a launching pad for scores of other mad scientist performances in films over the years.

Clive was also an in-demand leading man for a number of major film actresses of the era, including Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Corinne Griffith, and Jean Arthur. He also starred as Edward Rochester in a 1934 adaptation of Jane Eyre opposite Virginia Bruce. He was related to Clive of India and appeared in a featured role in a film biography of his relative in 1935.

From June 1929 until his death, Clive was married to Jeanne De Casalis, an English actress born in South Africa. Although she worked in films and on stage, her greatest success was as a comedienne on radio sitcoms in England, playing a dithering character named "Mrs. Feather". De Casalis did not accompany her husband to Hollywood; evidence indicates that the primary purpose of their marriage was to provide each of them with an excuse for not expressing sexual interest in other people.

Death

Colin Clive developed chronic alcoholism and died of pneumonia in 1937 at age 37.

Films

  1. Journey's End (1930)
  2. The Stronger Sex (1931)
  3. Frankenstein (1931)
  4. Lily Christine (1932)
  5. Christopher Strong (1933)
  6. Looking Forward (1933)
  7. The Key (1934)
  8. One More River (1934)
  9. Jane Eyre (1934) (as Mr. Rochester)
  10. Clive of India (1935)
  11. The Right to Live (1935)
  12. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
  13. The Girl from 10th Avenue (1935)
  14. Mad Love (1935)
  15. The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (1935)
  16. The Widow from Monte Carlo (1935)
  17. History Is Made at Night (1937)
  18. The Woman I Love (1937)

References

External links



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