So I collect vintage movie posters, window cards, etc. Because I purchased a window card from AAOL last year, eBay liked to recommend me AAOL products. One product that was recommended to me recently was a photo from the film (you know how you can by 8x10 prints of stills and whatnot).
This photo is from a scene that was not included in the film. It shows Jonathan (Raymond Massey) and Dr. Einstein (Peter Lorre) standing in what appears to be an old attic. Jonathan is gesturing to Einstein in a "everything the light touches is our kingdom" way. My knowledge of the film and the play leads me to believe they filmed a scene with the two in the unseen grandfather character's old laboratory, because that is what brought Jonathan back to his childhood home after his prison break (he wanted Einstein to operate an underground plastic surgery racket for criminals). Things that supports this is giant glass containers seen in the background and the fact that the stairs shown in the picture seem to be going up.
It couldn't be a still of J & E on the main floor of the home from the basement stairs because the main floor doesn't look like that. And it couldn't be from the basement grave digging scene because that's a wooden floor.
This is one of those things in film and media that will likely haunt me, since I know that it is probably stored in a vault at Warner Bros or is maybe in the possession in one of Frank Capra's descendants, and we'll never see it.
(First post here, BTW)
~ Lord forgive me, but it's time to go back to da old me ~
But have an excerpt of the scene so far (tho this is from Gregory Manks wonderful book "The very witching time of night"):
Tuesday: The call again is 8:00 a.m. Massey and Lorre play another scene in the cellar, where they plan to bury Mr. Spenalzo. Priscilla Lane joins them at 9:00 for a pick-up shot where Jonathan and Einstein accost Elaine; she wraps up her role at 10:30 a.m. Massey and Lorre then go back to Stage 11 and play a scene in Grandfather's Lab, high in the Brewster house. As the script describes it, the only light is "the moon streaming in through the window"; there are "cobwebs in profusion", as well as "an old-fashioned operating table, sinks, faucets, test tubes... There is a large picture of Grandfather in the wall. He was not a hand-some man."
Jonathan [looking around]: Yes, just as it was - even the jars of poison on the shelf. Grandfather made them himself.
Einstein [pointing to the picture]: And dot, I suppose, is Grandfather? [Jonathan nods grimly] I could have done a good chob on him.
Jonathan: Look, doctor - an operating table. A little moth-eating, perhaps, but entirely serviceable.
Einstein: Yes, I operate on you here.
Jonathan: Only on me? That would be selfish. Doctor, we could make a fortune here! This laboratory - there's a large ward in the attic - ten beds, doctor - and Brooklyn is crying for your talents.
The scene continues, Jonathan announcing that "practically everybody in Brooklyn needs a new face" and that the house "will be out headquarters for years." As for the aunts objecting: Einstein: And if they say no?
Jonathan [the moonlight in his face adds menace]: Doctor - two helpless old women -?
Post by Fred-erick-Frankenstein on Jul 12, 2021 22:38:13 GMT
And yes, omg, I want to watch this. There are two other scenes that I will never forgive Frank Capra for cutting it:
First one:
In his autobiography, The Name above the Title, Frank Capra wrote that he “let the scene stealers run wild; for the actors it was a mugger’s ball.” There was no reason to stick to the script “word for word with actors [who] were so much better than the script.” He often kept the cameras rolling, just to see what would happen. “There’s one scene especially where Peter was telling Raymond Massey what a beautiful face he was going to give him if he could find a place to do it, and that’s what they were going to do upstairs….I just let them go—Peter telling him how beautiful he was going to make him look, how different he was going to make him look, a face that nobody would recognize….‘I’ll do it by cutting here and there.’ That one scene went about three or four minutes beyond the scene and it’s all in the picture.” — The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, Stephen D. Youngkin
AND at this hurts almost more It's pretty much directly after the laboratory scene (see above answer):
EINSTEIN: (recovering from the wash) Yah - but after dinner?
JONATHAN: Leave that to me, Doctor. I'll handle it. This house will be our headquarter for years.
EINSTEIN: That would be beautiful, Chonny! This nice quiet house! Those aunts of yours - what sweet ladies! I lofe them already. (starts for door) I go got bags from the car, yah!
JONATHAN: Doctor! We must wait until we're invited.
EINSTEIN: (at door) But you chust said -
JONATHAN: (turning out the light) We'll be invited.
EINSTEIN: And if they say no -?
JONATHAN: (the moonlight on his face adds menace) Doctor - two helpless old women -? (he smiles, goes out)
FIRST FLOOR LANDING
JONATHAN and EINSTEIN come into the scene. They look down into the living room. The drawn curtains, the dim lights from the candelabra, gives the room a peaceful air.
JONATHAN: (with an all inclusive wave of his hand) Doctor - from now on I want you to consider this your home.
EINSTEIN: (takes our his flask, looks down into the room) It's like comes true a beautiful dream. Only I hope you're not dreaming. (takes swig from the flask) It's so peaceful.
JONATHAN: Yes, Doctor, that's what makes this house so perfect for us. It's so peaceful.
(TEDDY enters from the cellar, blows a blast on his bugle, then marches to the stairs and on up the landing, as the two men look at his tropical garb with amazement.
TEDDY: (on the landing) CHARGE!
He rushes up the steps, past the two astonished men. Jonathan draws his revolver. Einstein flattens himself up against the wall. Teddy dashes through the balcony door.
ABBY coming from the kitchen. The clock, of course, gas dropped an half an hour, when TEDDY slammed the door.
ABBY: (to the astonished JONATHAN and EINSTEIN, as she mechanically sets the clock back) Dinner is served.
And another gem, Johnny, I love your dramatic ass😂:
(Jonathan's way of getting the aunts to invite them for dinner)
JONATHAN: But my great disappointment is for Dr. Einstein. (the aunts look at EINSTEIN) I promised him that no matter how rushed we were in passing through Brooklyn, I would take the time to bring him here for one of Aunt Martha's home cooked dinners.
MARTHA: (rises to this a bit) Oh?
ABBY: I'm sorry. I'm afraid there wouldn't be enough.
JONATHAN: (playing it up) Oh, well, when you've gone four days without food I guess another day doesn't matter. I can stand it but it's Dr. Einstein I'm worried about - (Dr. Einstein coughs) Well, we'll go on, Doctor. Perhaps some passing stranger will grant us a crust of bread...
MARTHA can't stand it no longer.
MARTHA: Abby, it's a good sized pot roast.
JONATHAN: Pot roast!
MARTHA: I think the least we can do is -
JONATHAN: Thank you, Aunt Martha! We'll stay to dinner!