Lionel Atwill:The Exquisite Villain
written by Neil Pettigrew
published by Midnight Marquee
pages 324
I was hooked from the moment I read the forward written by none other then Lionel A Atwill- the son of Lionel Atwill …. a father he never new because he passed away when Lionel was only 6 months old and in helping the author in whatever way he could, Lionel also learned of relatives he had never met and more about his father as well …
Above: How’s that for manic,those eyes alone will burn you …
Atwill is the actor you don’t know you know, his face having graced many a horror film fanzine including Filmfax, Scary Monsters, Castle of Frankenstein and Famous Monsters of Filmland -the latter a magazine that would go on to change and influence the lives of many who would become actors, directors ,writers or involved in other aspects of entertainment — I myself used to wander to WAB Drugstore in Rochester NY with my allowance, hands trembling with excitement for the next copy and that is where I discovered Forrey Ackerman editor in chief ,Warren Publishing and with in those pages Lionel Atwill ….
Below: you’ll find posters,lobby cards,trailers & scenes showcasing Lionel and the versatile performances he gave ..
Above: Playing Inspector Krogh with Basil Rathbone-Son of Frankenstein an inspiration for Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein with Kenneth Mars giving a very funny and overly exaggerated performance as the inspector…
Below: star billing and he truly shines in this film gem from 1938
Below: Charlie Chan and an appearance where Lionel maybe just a red herring but you’ll have to watch ..I’m not telling…
Lionel Atwill was an amazing character actor who could make you cry ,have you laughing the next or with a menacing stare with his icy cold eyes send shivers down your spine …a star of stage,screen and radio .. spent over 20 years as stage actor ,writer and director before moving into film and in the course of his last 15 years made over 60 movies and several serials…appearing in the Charlie Chan series red herring and all or Mr Moto films as the villain ..Captain Blood …alongside Errol Flynn….with Basil Rathbone as the cool and calculating Moriarty ..literally bleeding Holmes one drop at a time dry of blood..talk about chilling and 3 films with Fay Wray(King Kong).. or check out Doctor X on VUDU at 9.99 or availble currently on Roku, the Warner Archive channel at 9.99 monthly or delivering a blood curdling performance in Murders in the Zoo/Man Made Monster ..appearing with Lon Chaney Jr.
Above : the Golden Age Captain America and his first screen rendition and can you guess who the villain is ?
He is more popular now than he was back in the late 30’s and 40’s when he was rolling out one film to the next ..never for a moment taking for granted his success and always delivering an amazing performance no matter how big or small the role , Lionel gave his all.One might say he was a work alcoholic.He was also someone to look for advice and even off camera loved to lend a helping hand even in terms of script and dialog as well with fellow actors..also off camera he Lionel loved to have fun and could be seen at or throwing parties ..he really loved people and storytelling .. .He had incredible an incredible screen presence and could easily “steal” a scene..once Atwill walked into shot the audience had a hard time taking their eyes off him and yet until recently , the last 20 years has he really started to earn the respect he deserves and one could say that what kept this from happening is that he was and is such a “character” actor whether in or out of makeup and that he was so versatile the audience may have thought boy he looks familiar but there is no way he could be the same “guy” we just saw in the Mystery at the Wax Museum-the mad, disfigured sculpter as opposed to the “Son of Frankenstein”- Inspector Krogh or Dr Mortimer in “The Hound of the Baskervilles” or even Maj. Gen. Sir John Sangye in 1938’s The High Command.
Below: in a publicity shot from The Gorilla -staring the Ritz Brothers, Bela Lugosi and in dual role Lionel as the greedy Uncle/the Ape
I would like to leave you with this statement-if ever there was an actor most deserving of a title of respect, for Lionel Atwill it would be “The Worlds Greatest Character Actor”-.A man who was performing right up until his dying days- the serial Lost City of the Jungle was to be his last body of work…and he still is performing somewhere…just another realm…
The book covers the 1st 20 years on stage ..in Britain,arriving in America,Broadway and the Hollywood years and a film analysis and 2 appendix ……
this book is available on Amazon
and Midnight Marquee
And please remember long before Vincent Price became the King of Horror Lionel gave us a most lasting iconic impression in wax ..that sinister fiend from The Mystery Of The Wax Museum.
So I invite you to discover one of the greatest character actors you didn’t know you knew…and one of my all time favorites and be prepared to be chilled …chilled to the bone!!!
Til next time this is “Doc” saying be ghoul..I mean cool and remember read anything..even a monster magazine, comic book and literacy and knowledge is a good thing…oh and if you happen upon Midnight Marquee’s place while you’re taking a late night stroll after you make past the moors and the creaky gate. tell’em who sent ya…
Available from Warner Archive completely remastered in HD and Bluray for the first time….
