Colin Clive | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Colin Glenn Clive-Greig (1900-01-20)20 January 1900 Saint-Malo,Brittany, France |
| Died | 25 June 1937(1937-06-25) (aged 37) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Ashes scattered at sea |
| Education | Stonyhurst College Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1925–1937 |
| Spouses | |
Colin Glenn Clive (bornClive-Greig; 20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British theatre and film actor. Known for portraying individualistic, tumultuous characters which often mirrored his personal life, he is most famous for his role asDr. Henry Frankenstein in the 1931 filmFrankenstein and its 1935 sequel,Bride of Frankenstein. Clive’s maniacal delivery of the words, "It's alive, it's alive!" when Dr. Frankenstein confirms his creature is moving, was listed byAmerican Film Institute (AFI) as one of the100 greatest movie quotes of all time.[1]
Clive was born inSaint-Malo, France, to an Englishcolonel, Colin Philip Greig, and his wife, Caroline Margaret Lugard Clive, a member of the aristocraticClive family. In a 1935 interview, Clive stated his mother had moved to France to escape the tumult of the ongoingSecond Boer War.[2] His family had intended for Clive to embark on a military career, and he attendedStonyhurst College and subsequently theRoyal Military College, Sandhurst, where he broke both knees after being thrown from and crushed by a horse. Recuperating from his injuries, Clive decided to become an actor.[3][2] He was a member of theHull Repertory Theatre Company for three years.[3]
Clive created the role of Steve Baker, the white husband of racially mixed Julie LaVerne, in the first London production ofShow Boat; the production featuredCedric Hardwicke andPaul Robeson. Clive first worked withJames Whale in theSavoy Theatre production ofJourney's End and subsequently joined the British community inHollywood, repeating his stage role in the film version.[4][5]
Clive's first screen role, inJourney's End (1930), was also directed byJames Whale. Clive played the tormented alcoholic Captain Stanhope, a character that (much like Clive's other roles) mirrored his personal life. He was an in-demand leading man for several major film actresses of the era, includingKatharine Hepburn,Bette Davis,Corinne Griffith, andJean Arthur. He starred asEdward Rochester in the1934 adaptation ofJane Eyre oppositeVirginia Bruce. He was a descendant ofRobert Clive and appeared in a starring role inClive of India (1935), abiopic of his ancestor. Clive remarked that he was disappointed he did not get to portray his own ancestor in the film.[6][4][2]
Colin Clive, together withLeo G. Carroll, starred in a radio play titledThe Other Place. It was written byJohn L. Balderston for the radio programThe Fleischmann's Yeast Hour hosted byRudy Vallee. It was aired on 14 November 1935.[7]
In a 1935 interview withFilm Weekly, Clive stated that he hated horror films and preferred more serious dramatic roles, only appearing in horror for financial reasons and because his performances were popular with audiences.[8]
When his agent discovered that Clive was only accruing 30% of his actual income due to paying taxes in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Clive refused to obtain American citizenship, which would have removed British taxes, fearing that it would prevent him from serving in the British army if a war broke out.[2]
AuthorAyn Rand wrote Clive a fan letter in 1934 after seeing a stage performance ofJourney’s End, praising Clive’s performance and character. Clive responded that he was very touched by the letter and would always keep it.[9]
Clive was married toJeanne de Casalis in June 1929.[10] By 1935, Clive and Casalis had been living separately, with Clive inLos Angeles County and Casalis inLondon.[2]
Colin Clive suffered from severe chronicalcoholism and he died from complications oftuberculosis on 25 June 1937 at age 37.[6]
Clive's alcoholism was apparent to his co-stars. He was often seen napping on set and sometimes was so intoxicated that he had to be held upright for over-the-shoulder shots. Clive was tormented by the medical threat of amputation of his long-damaged leg.[11]
Forrest J Ackerman recalled visiting Clive's body: "I actually saw him in death, lying in a bed at a mortuary where it was possible for the public to view his body. He looked remarkably as he had when lying in bed inThe Bride of Frankenstein."[12] Over 300 mourners turned out. One of the pallbearers wasPeter Lorre.[11] His remains were cremated and his ashes returned to England.[13] Hiscenotaph is located atChapel of the Pines Crematory.
| Date of 1st performance | Title | Author(s) | City | Theatre | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 March 20 | Rose-Marie | Otto Harbach,Rudolf Friml,Herbert Stothart | London | Drury Lane | Edward Hawley[17][18] |
| 1926 May 30 | Getting Mother Married | Neil Grant | London | Apollo | Capt. Eric Wilbraham[19] |
| 1927 June 30 | Fire | Arthur Rose | London | Everyman Theatre | St. John Sevening[20] |
| 1928 May 3 | Show Boat | Oscar Hammerstein II,Jerome Kern | London | Drury Lane | Steve[21][22] |
| 1928 November 4 | The Dark Path | Evan John | London | Savoy Theatre | James Havilland[23] |
| 1929 January 21 | Journey's End | R. C. Sherriff | London | Savoy Theatre | Cpt. Stanhope[5] |
| 1929 April 14 | Let's Leave It At That | Jeanne de Casalis, Colin Clive | London | Prince of Wales's Theatre | Michael Stern[24][25] |
| 1929 April 23 | Shall We Join the Ladies? | J. M. Barrie | London | PalaceTheatre | Mr. Vaile[26] |
| 1930 February 2 | Forty-Seven | Sydney Loch | London | Prince of Wales's Theatre | Forty-Seven[27] |
| 1930 April 22 | Hamlet | William Shakespeare | London | Haymarket Theatre | Laertes[28] |
| 1930 June 30 | The Swan | Ferenc Molnár | London | St. James's Theatre | Dr. Nicholas Agi[29][30] |
| 1930 December 5 | Overture | William Bolitho | New York | Longacre Theatre | Karl Ritter[31] |
| 1931 May 21 | The Crime at Blossoms | Mordaunt Shairp | London | Playhouse Theatre | Christopher Merryman[32] |
| 1932 July 19 | Escape | John Galsworthy | London | Garrick Theatre | Matt Denant[33] |
| 1932 August 22 | Loyalties | John Galsworthy | London | Garrick Theatre | Ronald Dancy[34] |
| 1932 September 29 | Justice | John Galsworthy | London | Garrick Theatre | William Falder[35] |
| 1933 October 28 | Eight Bells | Percy G. Mandley | New York | Hudson Theatre | Dale[36] |
| 1933 December 26 | The Lake | Dorothy Massingham and Murray MacDonald | New York | Martin Beck Theatre | John Clayne[37] |
| 1935 December 20 | Libel | Edward Wooll | New York | Henry Miller's Theatre | Sir Mark Loddon, Bart. M.P.[38] |
