} Crítica Retrô: C. Aubrey Smith: o lorde inesquecível

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Monday, November 17, 2014

C. Aubrey Smith: o lorde inesquecível

C. Aubrey Smith: the unforgetable lord

Quando eu tinha 13 anos, meu ator favorito era Robin Williams. Eu adorava a série Mork & Mindy, mas essa não era a principal razão para minha preferência: eu gostava de Robin porque ele nasceu no mesmo dia que eu! Dividir o aniversário com um astro representava muito para mim. E ainda representa, porque, como fã de cinema clássico, é um prazer dividir um bolo no dia 21 de julho com C. Aubrey Smith.
When I was 13, my favorite actor was Robin Williams. I loved the series Mork & Mindy, but this was not the main reason for my love: I liked Robin because we were born on the same day! Sharing my birthday with a movie star meant a lot to me. And it still does because, as a classic movie fan, it is a pleasure to share a birthday cake on July 21st with C. Aubrey Smith.
Ele é inconfundível: alto, cabelos brancos e ar aristocrático. Sempre interpretava lordes, militares, juízes ou qualquer outro personagem que inspirasse autoridade. Estudou em Cambridge, começou no teatro aos 30 anos e fez seu primeiro filme com 52. Praticamente desprezado na era muda, encontrou seu lugar como grande coadjuvante nos anos 30. Quem vê Charles Aubrey Smith não consegue esquecê-lo.
He is unmistakable: tall, white hair and aristocratic look. He always played lords, men in the military, judges or any other character that is an authority. He went to Cambridge, started in the theater when he was 30 and appeared in his first film at 52. Not much sought after during the silent era, he found his place as a great character actor in the 1930s. Who sees Charles Aubrey Smith cannot forget him.
C. Aubrey Smith viveu um bocado de aventuras fora das telas: entre 1888 e 1889, foi procurar ouro na África do Sul. Entre uma pepita e outra, teve uma mistura de febre tifóide e pneumonia grave, e chegou a ser declarado morto por um médico. Felizmente, para os cinéfilos, ele estava bem vivo! Em Hollywood, sua aventura era um pouco menos perigosa: era capitão do time de críquete das estrelas desde 1932, em que jogavam também Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Nigel Bruce, Leslie Howard e Boris Karloff.
C. Aubrey Smith lived many adventures in real life: between 1888 and 1889, he joined a gold rush in South Africa. When not finding gold, he had a mix of typhus fever and pneumonia, and was declared dead by a doctor. Happily for the cinephiles, he was very much alive! In Hollywood, his adventure was a little less dangerous: he was the captain of the movie stars cricket team since 1932, and playmates included Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Nigel Bruce, Leslie Howard and Boris Karloff. 

Teve uma infância muito rígida e desenvolveu um estranho medo do barulho de sinos quando criança, pois era obrigado a ir à Igreja todo domingo e detestava esta atividade.
He had a very strict upbringing and developed a strange phobia of the sound of bells ringing as a child, because he had to go to church every Sunday, even though he hated it.
No teatro, ainda no final do século XIX, ele ganhou destaque nos palcos ingleses protagonizando “O Prisioneiro de Zenda”, em um papel duplo. Também participou de “Pigmalião”, seu primeiro sucesso na Broadway. Nada mal para o aristocrata que considerava a atuação uma atividade menor!
In the theater, still in the 19th century, he was acclaimed in England as the lead of “The Prisoner of Zenda”, in two roles. He was also in “Pigmalion”, his first Broadway hit. Nothing bad, considering that he thought acting was a less honored activity!
Se você gosta de filmes da década de 1930 tanto quanto eu, deve ter percebido que C. Aubrey Smith está em toda parte. Ele é o malfadado pai de Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan) em “Tarzan, o Homem-Macaco” (1932), o pai da Imperatriz Catarina II, interpretada por Marlene Dietrich em “A Imperatriz Vermelha” (1934), o pai de Julieta (Norma Shearer) em “Romeu e Julieta” (1936), o duque sério que tenta controlar Myrna Loy em “Ama-me Esta Noite” (1932), o padre da ilha atingida por “O Furacão” (1937).
If you like movies from the 1930s as much as I do, you must have realized that C. Aubrey Smith is everywhere. He is Jane's (Maureen O'Sullivan) ill-fated father in “Tarzan the Ape Man” (1932), Empress Catherine II's (played by Marlene Dietrich) dad in “The Scarlet Empress” (1934), Juliet's (Norma Shearer) father in “Romeo and Juliet” (1936), the serious duke who tries to control Myrna Loy in “Love me Tonight” (1932), the priest in the island swept by “The Hurricane” (1937).
Este ator contracenou com algumas das maiores lendas do cinema: Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, Mary Astor, Freddie Bartholomew, Tyrone Power, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Marion Davies, Claudette Colbert.... Ele pode ser encontrado em “Cleopatra” (1934), “Ladrão de Alcova” (1932), “Mares da China” (1935), “A ponte de Waterloo” (1940), “Madame Curie” (1943)... são mais de 100 filmes em uma carreira brilhante.
This actor acted alonside some of the greatest film legends: Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, Mary Astor, Freddie Bartholomew, Tyrone Power, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Marion Davies, Claudette Colbert... He can be found in “Cleopatra” (1934), “Trouble in Paradise” (1932), “China Seas” (1935), “The Waterloo Bridge” (1940), “Madame Curie” (1943)... There are more than 100 films in his brilliant career.
Sua vida pessoal foi ficando mais tranquila com o tempo. De devedor nos tempos pós-mineração, C. Aubrey Smith se tornou um ator, marido e pai respeitável. Casou-se em 1896 com Isobel Mary Scott Wood, com quem ficaria até o fim da vida, e com ela teve sua única filha, Honor.
His personal life became calmer with time. Being a debtor in his post-mining times, C. Aubrey Smith still became a respectable actor, husband and father. He married Isobel Mary Scott Wood in 1896, with whom he stayed until the end of his life, and had with her his only daughter, Honor.

E olhe que vida pessoal fascinante: C. Aubrey Smith adorava carpintaria, tocar piano e pintar; ajudou nas vigílias dos atores durante a Primeira Guerra Mundial e era um dos melhores amigos de Boris Karloff!
And pay attention to such a fascinating personal life: C. Aubrey Smith loved carpentry, painting and playing the piano; helped in the wakes during World War I and was one of Boris Karloff's best friends!
O último trabalho de C. Aubrey Smith foi “Quatro Destinos” (1949), em que ele tem ótimas cenas com Margaret O’Brien. Em dezembro de 1948, a pneumonia lhe foi fatal. Em 1944 ele recebeu o título de “Sir” e em 1960 ganhou uma estrela na calçada da fama. Em 1963, serviu de inspiração para o personagem de desenho animado Commander McBragg. Nunca indicado a prêmio algum por seu trabalho no cinema, C. Aubrey Smith recebe até hoje a maior das homenagens: o carinho e o reconhecimento de quem, assim como eu, tem o prazer de vê-lo atuar sempre tão bem.
C. Aubrey Smith's last work was “Little Women” (1949), in which he has great scenes opposite Margaret O'Brien. On December 1948, pneumonia stroke again, and this time was mortal. In 1944 he was knighted by the king and in 1960 he was awarded a star in the walk of fame. In 1963, he was the inspiration for the cartoon character Commander McBragg. Never nominated for any film award, C. Aubrey Smith receives until today the biggest of homages: the love and acknowledgement of those who, like me, take the pleasure in seeing him acting always so well.
This is my contribution to the third annual What a Character! Blogathon, hosted by the three musketeers Aurora, Kellee and Paula at Once Upon a Screen, Outspoken & Freckled and Paula’s Cinema Club.
Créditos das imagens com legendas: ESTE SITE.
The images with explanatory notes came from THIS SITE.

12 comments:

Pedrita said...

não conhecia esse ator. já tinha visto, mas vc precisou apresentá-lo para situá-lo. beijos, pedrita

ANTONIO NAHUD said...

Ótimo ator. Sua presença é sinonimo de qualidade.

Marcelo Castro Moraes said...

Não conhecia também

Caftan Woman said...

It is surprising to me that Sir Smith was never nominated for any of his fine performances. His presence made for some very fine films. Choosing one favourite performance, I would go with "Five Came Back". Highly recommended if you haven't seen it yet.

Love article, as always.

Marcia Moreira said...

Adorei a biografia. Também divido meu aniversário com uma lenda: Louis Armstrong.

Terence Towles Canote said...

When I think of the stereotypical Englishman, either C. Aubrey Smith or Patrick Macnee come to mind! C. Aubrey Smith was simply amazing. Have I have to agree with Caftan Woman, he should have been nominated for awards for some of his performances! I love that you mention the cartoon character Commander McBragg was based on him!

Irish Jayhawk said...

I just adore C. Aubrey Smith! He seemed like the perfect grandpa if I were to pluck an actor to play that role. Always look forward to seeing him in any film. Great write-up and I especially appreciate the inclusion and trivia regarding Commander McBragg! Thanks so much for joining our blogathon, Le!

Carol Caniato said...

Acho que já tinha visto o rosto dele por aí, mas não sabia o nome e nem essa história.
É diferente ver um ator que começou a carreira mais velho, né? Geralmente é o contrário...
Beijinhos, Lê! <3

FlickChick said...

what a face! What an actor! What a great post about a truly one-of-a-kind character.

Anonymous said...

Great post! He truly was everywhere!

As Tertulías said...

Me encantou, Le, o fato de voce dedicar esta postagem a ele... um "querido" dos filmes... e de filme que jamais esquecerei como "Waterloo Bridge" e "As quatro irmas". Obrigado. Do fundo do coracao!!!! Adorei mesmo!!!!

DorianTB said...

Le, I had seen C. Aubrey in TARZAN, THE APE MAN and AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, but thanks to you and the WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon, I've learned more about this regal actor. Now I wish he'd gotten an Oscar or two, but at least we can still enjoy his excellent supporting roles! Great post, my friend, as always! :-D

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