Colin Clive

Colin Glenn Clive (born Clive-Greig; 20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British theatre and film actor. Known for portraying individualistic, tumultuous characters which often mirrored his personal life,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he is most famous for his role as Dr. Henry Frankenstein in the 1931 film Frankenstein and its 1935 sequel, Bride of Frankenstein. Clive’s maniacal delivery of the words, "It's alive, it's alive!" when Dr. Frankstein confirms his creature is moving, was listed by AFI as one of the 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Clive was born in Saint-Malo, France, to an English colonel, Colin Philip Greig, and his wife, Caroline Margaret Lugard Clive, a member of the aristocratic Clive family. In a 1935 interview, Clive stated his mother had moved to France to escape the tumult of the ongoing Second Boer War.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His family had intended for Clive to embark on a military career, and he attended Stonyhurst College and subsequently the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he broke both knees after being thrown from and crushed by a horse. Recuperating from his injuries, Clive decided to become an actor.<ref name=stageobit>"Colin Clive," The Stage (1 July 1937), p. 7. [obituary]</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was a member of the Hull Repertory Theatre Company for three years.<ref name=stageobit/>

Clive created the role of Steve Baker, the white husband of racially mixed Julie LaVerne, in the first London production of Show Boat; the production featured Cedric Hardwicke and Paul Robeson. Clive first worked with James Whale in the Savoy Theatre production of Journey's End and subsequently joined the British community in Hollywood, repeating his stage role in the film version.<ref name=":0" />Template:Sfn

Hollywood

Clive's first screen role, in Journey's End (1930), was also directed by James Whale. Clive played the tormented alcoholic Captain Stanhope, a character that (much like Clive's other roles) mirrored his personal life. He was an in-demand leading man for several major film actresses of the era, including Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Corinne Griffith, and Jean Arthur. He starred as Edward Rochester in the 1934 adaptation of Jane Eyre opposite Virginia Bruce. He was a descendant of Robert Clive and appeared in a starring role in Clive of India (1935), a biopic of his ancestor. Clive remarked that he was disappointed he did not get to portray his own ancestor in the film.<ref name=obit/><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Colin Clive, together with Leo G. Carroll, starred in a radio play titled The Other Place. It was written by John L. Balderston for the radio program The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour hosted by Rudy Vallee. It was aired on 14 November 1935.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In a 1935 interview with Film Weekly, Clive stated that he hated horror films and preferred more serious dramatic roles, only appearing in horror for financial reasons and because his performances were popular with audiences.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

When his agent discovered that Clive was only accruing 30% of his actual income due to paying taxes in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Clive refused to obtain American citizenship, which would have removed British taxes, fearing that it would prevent him from serving in the British army if a war broke out.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Author Ayn Rand wrote Clive a fan letter in 1934 after seeing a stage performance of Journey’s End, praising Clive’s performance and character. Clive responded that he was very touched by the letter and would always keep it.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Clive was married to Jeanne de Casalis<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in June 1929. By 1935, Clive and Casalis had been living separately, with Clive in Los Angeles County and Casalis in London.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Death

Colin Clive suffered from severe chronic alcoholism and he died from complications of tuberculosis on 25 June 1937 at age 37.<ref name="obit">Template:Cite news</ref>

Clive's alcoholism was apparent to his co-stars. He was often seen napping on set and sometimes was so intoxicated that he had to be held upright for over-the-shoulder shots. Clive was tormented by the medical threat of amputation of his long-damaged leg.<ref name="mank">Template:Cite book</ref>

Forrest J Ackerman recalled visiting Clive's body: "I actually saw him in death, lying in a bed at a mortuary where it was possible for the public to view his body. He looked remarkably as he had when lying in bed in The Bride of Frankenstein."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Over 300 mourners turned out. One of the pallbearers was Peter Lorre.<ref name="mank"/> His cenotaph is located at Chapel of the Pines Crematory.

Roles

File:Colin Clive 14.jpg

Flyer for Colin Clive's appearance in the 1935 play Libel!

Stage

• Peter and Paul (September 1925)<ref name=Rowell>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Advertising April (November 1925)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Date of 1st performance	Title	Author(s)	City	Theatre	Role
1925 March 20	Rose-Marie	Otto Harbach, Rudolf Friml, Herbert Stothart	London	Drury Lane	Edward HawleyTemplate:Sfn<ref>Shared role with Brian Gilmour.</ref>
1926 May 30	Getting Mother Married	Neil Grant	London	Apollo	Capt. Eric WilbrahamTemplate:Sfn
1927 June 30	Fire	Arthur Rose	London	Everyman Theatre	St. John SeveningTemplate:Sfn
1928 May 3	Show Boat	Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern	London	Drury Lane	SteveTemplate:Sfn<ref>Shared part with Jack Livesey.</ref>
1928 November 4	The Dark Path	Evan John	London	Savoy Theatre	James HavillandTemplate:Sfn
1929 January 21	Journey's End	R. C. Sherriff	London	Savoy Theatre	Cpt. StanhopeTemplate:Sfn
1929 April 14	Let's Leave It At That	Jeanne de Casalis, Colin Clive	London	Prince of Wales's Theatre	Michael SternTemplate:Sfn<ref>Revived at the Queen's Theatre on 10 June 1929.</ref>
1929 April 23	Shall We Join the Ladies?	J. M. Barrie	London	PalaceTheatre	Mr. VaileTemplate:Sfn
1930 February 2	Forty-Seven	Sydney Loch	London	Prince of Wales's Theatre	Forty-SevenTemplate:Sfn
1930 April 22	Hamlet	William Shakespeare	London	Haymarket Theatre	LaertesTemplate:Sfn
1930 June 30	The Swan	Ferenc Molnár	London	St. James's Theatre	Dr. Nicholas AgiTemplate:Sfn<ref>Replaced by Basil Langton and Glen Byam Shaw.</ref>
1930 December 5	Overture	William Bolitho	New York	Longacre Theatre	Karl Ritter<ref>"Overture", Internet Broadway Database.</ref>
1931 May 21	The Crime at Blossoms	Mordaunt Shairp	London	Playhouse Theatre	Christopher MerrymanTemplate:Sfn
1932 July 19	Escape	John Galsworthy	London	Garrick Theatre	Matt DenantTemplate:Sfn
1932 August 22	Loyalties	John Galsworthy	London	Garrick Theatre	Ronald DancyTemplate:Sfn
1932 September 29	Justice	John Galsworthy	London	Garrick Theatre	William FalderTemplate:Sfn
1933 October 28	Eight Bells	Percy G. Mandley	New York	Hudson Theatre	Dale<ref>"Eight Bells", Internet Broadway Database.</ref>
1933 December 26	The Lake	Dorothy Massingham and Murray MacDonald	New York	Martin Beck Theatre	John Clayne<ref>"The Lake", Internet Broadway Database.</ref>
1935 December 20	Libel	Edward Wooll	New York	Henry Miller's Theatre	Sir Mark Loddon, Bart. M.P.<ref>"Libe", Internet Broadway Database.</ref>

Film

• Journey's End (1930) as Capt. Dennis Stanhope (film debut)<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Frankenstein (1931) as Dr. Henry Frankenstein<ref name=":0" />
• The Stronger Sex (1931)<ref name=":0" /> as Warren Barrington
• Lily Christine (1932) as Rupert Harvey<ref name=":0" />
• Christopher Strong (1933) as Sir Christopher Strong<ref name=":0" />
• Looking Forward (1933) as Geoffrey Fielding<ref name=":0" />
• The Key (1934) as Capt. Andrew 'Andy' Kerr<ref name=":0" />
• One More River (1934) as Sir Gerald Corven<ref name=":0" />
• Jane Eyre (1934) as Edward Rochester<ref name=":0" />
• Clive of India (1935) as Capt. Johnstone<ref name=":0" />
• The Right to Live (1935) as Maurice<ref name=":0" />
• Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as Dr. Henry Frankenstein<ref name=":0" />
• The Girl from 10th Avenue (1935) as John Marland<ref name=":0" />
• Mad Love (1935) as Stephen Orlac<ref name=":0" />
• The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (1935) as Bertrand Berkeley
• The Widow from Monte Carlo (1936) as Lord Eric Reynolds<ref name=":0" />
• History Is Made at Night (1937) as Bruce Vail<ref name=":0" />
• The Woman I Love (1937) as Capt. Thelis<ref name=":0" /> (final role)

References

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External links

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