
God felt sorry for actors, so he gave them a place in the sun and a lot of money. All they had to sacrifice was their talent. – Claude Rains
How many people can be Napoleon, Julius Caesar, Prince John, an angel, Satan, a US senator, a Spanish Don, a British earl, a colonel, a phantom, and an invisible man all in one lifetime? Claude Rains achieved that distinction during his vast, incomparable film career, which spanned over three decades. Although this great actor was born in England, he found stardom in Hollywood in 1933, at age forty-four. For the third year in a row, the Pure Entertainment Preservation Society is honoring Claude Rains’s life and work in memory of his birthday; he would have been 131 this year!
The blogathon’s dates this year are November 9-11, coinciding with his actual birthday, which is November 10. This it the third time we have hosted this celebration of the great “Willy Wains.” Since both previous years have been so successful, we decided to continue this party for the third year, making this our only annual blogathon other than The Great Breening Blogathon. Like the first year, we hosted this, the dates coincide with Veterans Day, an appropriate coincidence, since Mr. Rains was a World War I veteran. Thus, this blogathon is also our tribute to the generation of actors and filmmakers who fought in the Great War.
The Rules:
- We are putting no limitations on duplicates. Although Mr. Rains did make a great many films in his long career, there are a certain few that are especially beloved and famous, and I’m sure several people will want to review them.
- Although Mr. Rains did quite a lot of work in the media of stage, radio, and television, we are limiting the blogathon to his film career, since PEPS predominately celebrates the cinema during the Golden Era. You can also write about his personal life, albeit respectfully.
- Because PEPS’s main goal is to celebrate and spread the word about the Code and the marvelous films it produced, we ask that you please keep all articles Code-compliant, even when discussing a film which is not.
Here are the banners for the Third Annual Claude Rains Blogathon! Please put at least one in your article and use them to advertise the blogathon on your website!

This banner features a shot from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); in this scene, Senator Joseph Payne (Claude Rains) feels guilty for what he has done to young Jeff Smith (James Stewart).

This banner features a shot from Angel on My Shoulder (1946); in this scene, Nick (Claude Rains) tells a revitalized gangster (Paul Muni) what it means to make a deal with the Devil.

This banner features a shot from Notorious (1946); this is the scene when Alexander Sebastian (Claude Rains) and his wife, Alicia (Ingrid Bergman), host a party.

This banner features a shot from The Unsuspected (1947); even wearing glasses, Victor Grandison (Claude Rains), a radio mystery host, looks suave.

This banner features a shot from The Man Who Watched Trains Go By, also known as The Paris Express (1952); as Kees Popinga, Claude Rains played a complex character who does much more than watch trains.
Roster of Participants
- Rebekah Brannan of the Pure Entertainment Preservation Society – To Be Announced
- Tiffany Brannan of the Pure Entertainment Preservation Society – Four Daughters (1938)
- Erica D. of Poppity Talks Classic Film – Sealed Cargo (1951)
- Kristen Winiarski of KN Winiarski Writes – Notorious (1946)
- Rebecca Deniston of Taking Up Room – Passage to Marseilles (1944)
- Crystal Kalyana Pacey of In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood – The Unsuspected (1947)
- MovieCritic of Movies Meet Their Match – Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Virginie Pronovost of The Wonderful World of Cinema – Where Danger Lives (1950)
- Carissa (The Regency Woman) of Musings of an Introvert – The Passionate Friends (1949)
- Sally Silverscreen of 18 Cinema Lane – Angel on My Shoulder (1946)
- Patricia Nolan Hall of Caftan Woman – Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Diamond Necklace (1959)
- Kayla of Whimsically Classic – The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
- Ruth of Silver Screenings – Deception (1949)
- Megan Chappie of The Pen and the Cross – To Be Announced
- Kevin Maher of Top Ten Film Lists – The Invisible Man (1933)
- Rob of MovieRob – Paris Express (1952), Sealed Cargo (1951), and Forever and a Day (1943)
Please help us to make this blogathon a success by joining and displaying one of our banners on your website to advertise it! Also, don’t forget to join and advertise the 4th Annual Great Breening Blogathon, which is coming up soon, on October 12-14!

Join The 4th Annual Great Breening Blogathon!
Follow us to bring back the Code and save the arts in America!
We are lifting our voices in classical song to help the sun rise on a new day of pure entertainment!
Pingback: Take 3: Angel on My Shoulder Review – 18 Cinema Lane
My plan is to watch and review Paris Express (1952), Sealed Cargo (1951) and Forever and a Day (1943)
Hope that’s fine by u guys
if something changes, I’ll let u know.
Tnx for the invitation!
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Dear Rob,
Thank you for joining! Those are great choices. I just put you on the roster.
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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I uploaded my entry really early because I couldn’t wait:
https://silverscreenings.org/2020/10/28/thanks-a-lot-claude-rains/
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Dear Ruth,
That’s great! I can’t wait to read it. It will be the first entry on the roster when the blogathon begins. Thank you for joining!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Pingback: Home Sweet Haunt – Taking Up Room
Tiffany,
Thanks for the kind words on my piece about A Face in the Crowd! I would love to join the Claude Rains blogathon & would love to write about The Invisible Man, if that’s still available.
Thanks
Kevin
Top10FilmLists.com
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Dear Kevin,
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you want to join. “The Invisible Man” is a great topic. I’ll put you on the roster!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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How could I resist this? I would love to write an article for this blogathon once more, although I’m not sure which movie I’ll be writing on! I’d love to revisit Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, as it’s been many years since I’ve watched it, but we’ll see if that materializes or not. 🙂
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Dear Megan,
That’s great! “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” is always a great choice, but I’ll put you down as To Be Announced until your decision is definite. Thank you for joinin!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Who can resist paying tribute to Claude Rains? I’d like to look at his performance in Deception (1949) with Bette Davis, if possible. Thanks!
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Dear Ruth,
We’re glad to hear that you want to join our tribute to Claude Rains. I will add you to the roster for writing about “Deception.” That’s a great choice! They were such a great screen couple.
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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I love Claude Rains! Can I do “The Adventures of Robin Hood” ?
Kayla- Whimsically Classic
whimsicallyclassic.wordpress.com
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Dear Kayla,
I put you on the roster for both blogathons. Thank you so much for joining! “White Christmas” is my family’s favorite Christmas film, and “Robin Hood” contains a truly rare performance from Claude Rains. I can’t wait to read your reviews!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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I would like to contribute something for your Claude Rains blogathon on Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Diamond Necklace, 1959.
https://www.caftanwoman.com/
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Dear Patti,
Thank you for joining! That’s a great choice. I can’t wait to read your thoughts on this.
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Hello Tiffany! Thanks for inviting me to join your blogathon! I will be reviewing ‘Angel on my Shoulder’, as I’m curious to see how the Breen Code dealt with the subject of the afterlife and the story, to an extent, reminds me of ‘All Dogs Go To Heaven’.
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Dear Sally,
Thank you so much for joining! I’m so glad that you are going to participate in this celebration. I saw “Angel on My Shoulder” a few months ago, and I really enjoyed it. I’m sure you will, too! I can’t wait to read your thoughts on it.
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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You’re welcome! Can’t wait for the blogathon! Also, I know this is last minute, but I’d like to participate in the Great Breening Blogathon with a review this Wednesday.
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Dear Sally,
I would be thrilled if you would join The Great Breening Blogathon! It’s never too late! To be honest, this blogathon has far fewer participants than our others, so we would be delighted to have another guest! I look forward to your article!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Hey! I realized that I was not participating to any blogathon in November so I can definitely give a place to yours! I’d like to write about the noir Where Danger Lives (1950) I haven’t seen it yet but it looks good!
Link to my blog: https://thewonderfulworldofcinema.wordpress.com/
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Dear Virginie,
Thanks for joining! That’s great. I’ll put you down on the roster. I look forward to reading your post!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Hi, I’ll try to review for “The Passionate Friends.”
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Dear Carissa,
Another great choice! Thank you!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Hello, Tiffany!
I just saw your comment on my blog letting me know about this. I had forgotten that Claude Rains was in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) until I was looking through his filmography, and I’ve been meaning to review that one for awhile, so put me down for that! Thanks!
MovieCritic | Movies Meet Their Match
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That’s a great choice! I have been wanting to watch and breen that film for a while myself. I look forward to reading your thoughts on it! I added you to the roster. Thank you for joining!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Hi Tiffany.
I’m glad your bringing Claude back. He’s a huge favorite. Can you put me down for “The Unsuspected” ( 1947 ) please??
My blog: In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood.
By the way, I’m not sure if you seen the announcement, but I’m hosting my annual Barrymore Trilogy Blogathon for the sixth consecutive year, and I’d love to invite you to participate. Here is the link.
https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/announcing-the-sixth-annual-barrymore-trilogy-blogathon/
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Dear Crystal,
That’s wonderful! I’ll put you down for that. I’m so glad you’re joining.
You invited me to your Barrymore Blogathon, and I wanted to join then. I haven’t been able to think of a topic yet. I’ll do some research on IMDb and let you know very soon about my topic. You can put me down as To Be Announced for now.
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Yes, please! I’d like to write about “Passage to Marseille”, if that’s OK.
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Hello! I’d like to write about Notorious please!
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Hello, hello!!
This is so exciting!
I would love to write about SEALED CARGO (1951). 😍
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Dear Erica,
We’re thrilled that you want to join! We haven’t seen that film yet, but it sounds like a great topic. We’ll add you to the roster. Thank you for joining!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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