Claude Rains Biography

The son of British stage actor Frederick Rains, Claude Rains gave his first theatrical performance at age 11 in Nell of Old Drury. He learned the technical end of the business by working his way up from being a two-dollars-a-week page boy to stage manager. After making his first U.S. appearance in 1913, Rains returned to England, served in the Scottish regiment during WWI, then established himself as a leading actor in the postwar years. He was also featured in one obscure British silent film, Build Thy House. During the 1920s, Rains was a member of the teaching staff at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art; among his pupils were a young sprout named Laurence Olivier and a lovely lass named Isabel Jeans, who became the first of Rains' six wives. While performing with the Theatre Guild in New York in 1932, Rains filmed a screen test for Universal Pictures. On the basis of his voice alone, the actor was engaged by Universal director James Whale to make his talking-picture debut in the title role of The Invisible Man (1933). During his subsequent years at Warner Bros., the mellifluous-voiced Rains became one of the studio's busiest and most versatile character players, at his best when playing cultured villains. Though surprisingly never a recipient of an Academy award, Rains was Oscar-nominated for his performances as the "bought" Senator Paine in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), the title character in Mr. Skeffington (1944), the Nazi husband of Ingrid Bergman in Notorious (1946), and, best of all, the cheerfully corrupt Inspector Renault in Casablanca (1942). In 1946, Rains became one of the first film actors to demand and receive one million dollars for a single picture; the role was Julius Caesar, and the picture Caesar and Cleopatra. He made a triumphant return to Broadway in 1951's Darkness at Noon. In his last two decades, Claude Rains made occasional forays into television (notably on Alfred Hitchcock Presents) and continued to play choice character roles in big-budget films like Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

• 1. Rick Blaine: Henri wants us to finish this bottle, then three more. He says he'll water his garden with champagne before he lets the Germans drink any of it.
  2. Capt. Louis Renault: If Rick has the letters, he is much too smart to let us find them there. [in the Cafe]
  3. Maj. Heinrich Strasser: You give him credit for too much cleverness. My impression was he's just another blundering American.
  4. Capt. Louis Renault: We mustn't underestimate American blundering. I was with them when they blundered into Berlin in 1918.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by rick b (46 days ago)

• 1. Rick Blaine: Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine.
  2. Ilsa: Play it Sam, let me hear 'As Time Goes By'.
  3. Sam: [to Illsa] You're no good for him, you're bad luck.
  4. Rick Blaine: They grab Ugarte and she walks in. Well, thats the way it goes, one in one out.
  5. Capt. Louis Renault: Realizing the importance of the case, my men are rounding up twice the usual number of suspects.
  6. Carl Headwaiter: The second largest? That wouldn't impress Rick. The leading banker in Amsterdam is now the pastry chef in our kitchen.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by rick b (2 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: [after Rick pulls a gun on him] Have you lost your mind?
  2. Rick Blaine: I have. Sit down!
  3. Capt. Louis Renault: Put that gun down!
  4. Rick Blaine: I don't want to shoot you, but I will if you take one more step!
  5. Capt. Louis Renault: [With amusement] Under the circumstances I will sit down.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Joe R (4 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: I'm shocked that there is gambling in this establishment.
  2. Waiter: Sir here are your winnings.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Oscar L (5 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: Major Strassar has been shot... Round up the usual suspects!
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Frazer M (5 months ago)

• 1. Rick Blaine: I came to Casablanca for the waters.
  2. Capt. Louis Renault: Waters?! We're in a DESERT!
  3. Rick Blaine: I was misinformed.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Richard S (7 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: That is my least vulnerable spot.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by The S (9 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: That is my least vulnerable spot.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by The S (9 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
  From Casablanca. Submitted by The S (9 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Ryan P (10 months ago)

• 1. Sen. Joseph Paine: Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
  2. President of the Senate: Will the Senator yield?
  3. Jefferson Smith: No, sir, I'm afraid not, no sir.
  From Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Submitted by Al R (10 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?
  2. Rick Blaine: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
  3. Capt. Louis Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert.
  4. Rick Blaine: I was misinformed.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Hunter I (12 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
  2. Emil the Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
  3. Capt. Louis Renault: Oh, thank you very much.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Michael Louis W (12 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: Round up the usual suspects.
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)

• 1. Capt. Louis Renault: Round up the usual suspects!
  From Casablanca. Submitted by Tyler C (13 months ago)