This movie about the famous Dutch painter from the 1600s has an enchanting quality thanks to its characters. It’s not only Charles Laughton, playing the artist himself, but also Elsa Lanchester as Hendrickje Stoffels and Gertrude Lawrence as Geertje Dirx—the women in his life—who all contribute to the film's appeal and give the people on screen a natural sense of personality. Alexander Korda seemed to have a good working relationship with the actors, which resulted in a creative plan that allowed the story to unfold without simply being a list of what he accomplished as an artist. It’s mostly imagined, naturally—but it provides an interesting glimpse into not only how he lived (in a rather reckless way) but also how many artists at that time barely scraped by, despite the fact that, as the opening scene mentions, "no millionaire could ever fund the acquisition of his works." Geoffrey Toye deserves praise for the understated and understanding music that accompanies this compelling portrayal of artistic brilliance, imperfections and all. Although Laughton occasionally falls back on familiar characterizations toward the very end—like his performance in 1933’s *Henry VIII*—it remains a wonderful film to see.

Source on TMDB