Ronald Colman : My ideal man

My ideal man

As Kitty says in Random Harvest - "you've spoilt me for other men" .

Re: My ideal man

Ronald Colman: Gentleman Of the Cinema

http://www.ronaldcolman.com/Random-Harvest.html

A lot of interesting things in there. My favorites are the comments from his co-workers.

"My most romantic scene? That was with Ronald Colman in RANDOM HARVEST, the story of a shell shocked veteran of World War 1 and the love he had forgotten. It was just after he recovers from his amnesia. We were meeting at our once beloved little cottage in the country. All the lost years of our love, and all the hopes of the future are crowded into that one scene. It hit the deepest emotional point I've ever experienced in a picture, and it remains a thrilling memory." - Greer Garson



“I never knew anybody to have more beautiful manners. He was kind and gentle, very friendly and sweet." - May McAvoy




"Ronald Colman knew more about acting for the camera than any actor I worked with." - George Cukor





"No one, not even Douglas Fairbanks, could match Ronald Colman’s screen close-ups. They were marvellous because he had a beautiful face, and because he had a deep but gentle masculinity: the ideal of the dark Englishman." - Laurence Olivier




"Ronnie became not just an actor for me, but a way of life." - Vincent Price




"He doesn’t need cloaks and swords and horses and big old lances or anything to be romantic, he’s just a wonderfully romantic person." - Greer Garson




"He was the greatest actor I have ever known. He knew exactly what to do and was letter-perfect when he did it." - John Ford

Re: My ideal man

Thank you for the reply and the quotes. I was particularly struck by Laurence Olivier's. I don't think he gave out praise very often.

Also Vincent Price. You can see that he modelled himself on a being a gentleman.

Lost Horizon was my dad's favorite film. It always fascinated me as a child.

Re: My ideal man

Laurence Olivier and Ronald Colman were close friends. Olivier had married Vivien Leigh at Colman's ranch in Santa Barbara. Olivier did pass out praise for other performers like Spencer Tracy, Cary 2000 Grant, Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and John Barrymore, but he could be very dismissive and a little snobbish as well.

One can see why he would praise Ronald Colman.

Re: My ideal man

Your dad represents the best of the old ideal of a gentleman and the virtues embodied therein. Sadly the teachings that produce this kind of man are in danger of becoming extinct. To be a real gentleman in the Rudyard Kipling mode is not an easy thing to achieve. Of course your dad had the even rarer quality of stupendous charm on top of his virtue and talent.

Re: My ideal man

Ronald Colman is my favorite actor of all time. He embodied the ideal gentleman, charming and virtuous, brave yet modest, whose beautiful manners even in awkward situations seemed effortless. We are lucky his films remain as an inspiration.

Re: My ideal man

An absolute dreamboat

Re: My ideal man

So hansim!!!!

Keep in it real since 1972! And proud of it!!!!

Re: My ideal man

Sadly the teachings that produce this kind of man are in danger of becoming extinct. To be a real gentleman in the Rudyard Kipling mode is not an easy thing to achieve. Of course your dad had the even rarer quality of stupendous charm on top of his virtue and talent.
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Ronald Colman existed at a time when a man could be dashing, charming and a gentleman. Those days are gone. Now men look like meatheads and act just the same.

Re: My ideal man

>>> the teachings that produce this kind of man

What are these teachings?


Scariest words in English: We’re from the federal government and we’re here to help. R. Reagan

Re: My ideal man

I think the poster meant that times had changed to an extent that the likes of Ronald Colman are extinct. Name an actor under 30 today who has Colman's style, charm, wit and looks.
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