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for Marc h 1936
17
An Open Letter to Charles Laughton
DEAR, MR. LAUGHTON: Do me a favor. Don't play Mr. Chips.
All right — I'll give in immediately and admit that you could do it. You could play anything. In fact, you have. Any actor who can toss off a Ruggles of Red Gap, or a Father Barrett, and then with the greatest of ease portray Captain Bligh, can do anything. You have given us Henry the Eighth, Laughton-style. You have enacted Victor Hugo's J avert — with trimmings. And all the time you are Charles Laughton having the time of his life — and giving most of the cash customers theirs.
But you leave Mr. Chips alone. I don't want Mr. Chips to turn into Charles Laughton. I want him just as he is in the book — a gentle, charming, adorable gentleman, with positively not a single sadistic tendency. James Hilton's book, "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," brought something so refreshing to the lending libraries that everyone who read it felt a little glow — even those who pretended to gag at it. And Mr. Chips, the gentle English school-master, remains in memory of all who read the book — ■ each according to his own conception. My Mr. Chips was slight and very slender, with long slim blue-veined hands, and an ascetic face with rather dreamy eyes. And whatever you can do, Mr. Laughton, and it's plenty, you can NOT make your hands long and slim; you are not slight, even though you are now more slender; and your eyes — well, they are nightmare eyes, and you can do great things with them; but you're not going to scare me out of my ideal of Mr. Chips — or are you?
Yes, I suppose you really are. Irving Thalberg has more to say about casting his Metro
pictures than I have. And James Hilton, who wrote the book, plays right into your hands by agreeing enthusiastically that you are a splendid choice for the role. In fact, Mr. Hilton once heartily recommended Wallace Beery, no less, to play the part. I hate to think of a great actor like you, Mr. Laughton, turning into the lesser of two evils; but there you are.
Since it is practically settled, then, will you permit me just a word of friendly advice? Oh, yes, I can be friendly, Mr. Laughton. I welcomed you with open arms when you first appeared before us in "Payment Deferred." I still think that was the finest thing you have ever done ; for since then you have too often given in to your amusing penchant for finding a little bit of the pathological in every good part; and we have come to expect that "Laughton touch" like a cold, clammy hand around our throats. Maybe we like it and are just fighting it. But this time, what can you dig up about poor Mr. Chips? He led a blameless life; he never flogged or persecuted or executed anybody; he was a good man. Then how are you going to play him? You probably have your own plans. But just you try to smear Mr. Chips with your magnificent mud; just you try it. You'll find me leading a sadistic mob of blood-thirsty fans all leering: "Goodbye, Mr. Laughton."