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Click on the links above to visit the entire section of the site devoted to Mr. Colman.
Ronald Colman
Ronald Colman is known to me and many others as “The Man With the Velvet Voice.” He has provided me pleasure watching his performances and listening to his beautiful speaking voice. Because of this, this section serves as an attempt to say “thank you” by showing my appreciation of his talent. This is just one reason he is included here; a classic movie site without Colman, is just not complete.
Colman Facts
- Colman was voted the most handsome actor in Hollywood.
- He was also considered the most successful actor to successfully transition from silent to sound films.
- He is still remembered as the English gentleman even though he lived in the US over 35 years.
- His mustache was a part of his personae as much as his voice. He only shaved it off for certain performances, such as when playing Sidney Carton in “A Tale of Two Cities”.
A Take of Two Cities
I remember the first Ronald Colman film ever saw. It was when I was very young, it was”A Tale of Two Cities.” I remember vividly as it was one of those days when you have a “snow day” from school. The quiet of the snow and the coziness of the house made it a perfect environment in order to become completely absorbed by the film. His lovely voice and gentlemanly manner was mesmerizing. The character he played, Sidney Carton, is truly tragic and monumental. When playing Carton and giving his life in order to save the husband of the woman he loved, he immortalized himself forever in my mind. Colman was the epitome of Sidney Carton and no other actor has done a better job in the part.
Colman a Gentleman
Even though he didn’t have much formal education Colman is known as a gentleman and a scholarly person . His voice, with his British accent, moved like velvet over his lips. I could listen to him for days on end. I’ve seen most of his films (some of the silent ones are unavailable) and I have never been disappointed by any performance he’s given.
Although I never knew him or know as much about him as I’d like, I feel I owe a debt to him which cannot be repaid. I just wish he was still with us, so I could look forward to seeing additional Colman performances. I hope you enjoy viewing this site as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Ronald Colman was our Favorite of the Month for October 2015. See all the posts we made about her during the month by clicking on the banner below:
October 2015
Ronald Colman
I have come across this page a number of times and seeing that no one has left a message, which an over sight frankly, I thought I would get the ball rolling.
I have been a Colman admirer for many years. Like you I was very young when I first saw his image on the screen ‘Condemned’ was the film and I was smitten by how he looked and that very distinctive voice and something else I could not articulate to myself at the time but now understand was the very modernity of his performance style, minimum of expression and gesture conveying maximum impact, everything is thought through a total absense of hollow theatrics. He was highly influential and deserves recognision for this. A huge star in his life time he did not gain cult status after his passing. I for one would love this to change. Many thanks for your website.
Thank you for visiting smbryans. I too share your interest in Colman; he was truly a great actor. Thank you for commenting! We love it when visitors comment on the info we have.
Currently watching him on TCM. Looked him up on google. Wanted to know more about him. Next to Bogart he’s one of my favorites. I always look forward to his movies/voice..FF
Just watched Tale of Two Cities. Have never really been aware of Ronald Coleman, but loved his performance. Can you have a “crush” on a movie star who has passed on? I think you can! Wish we had more around just like him!
Carolyn, it’s my all time favorite Colman film and I agree I too loved his performance. And, yes, you can have a crush on a movie star who has passed on, I sure do for Ronald Colman!
I believe I will join that fan club. I fell absolutely in love with Colman in Tale of Two Cities. He was indeed a “rare breed” of gentleman. Would like to get a T-shirt or poster of him. My respects.
Thanks for your comment Kimberly. I too, (Lynn) fell in love with Colman while watching A Tale of Two Cities and agree wholeheartedly. Thanks for visiting our site!
Do you know what has become of the “Halls of Ivy” television series, of which there were aboyut 34 programs broadcast? One appeared in an early 1950s televisdion anthology (VHS), and is on YouTube), but the rest have never been released. That’s a shame because not only was Colman a gifted actor, but the program was one of the best written (Don Quinn).
Kendall, I take it you know the radio versions are available:
https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Halls_Of_Ivy_Singles
Just in case!
DN, we also have each of the radio shows here on Classic Movie Favorites. You can find them in the Halls of Ivy Section here: http://www.classicmoviefavorites.com/actors-featured-at-classic-movie-favorites/ronald-colman/ronald-colman-the-halls-of-ivy/
Ronald Colman was truly a wonderful and talented actor!!! My favorite film of his is “Random Harvest” with Greer Garson! Great love story 🙂 Another film I loved was “Prisoner of Zenda” Thank You for adding him to your list of actors!!
Thanks for your comment Sherry. I love both films you mention and yes, he was one of the best!!!
Thrilled to find another page dedicated to Mr. Colman – I own everyone of his films that I’ve been to lay my hand on including several silents – hard to select my favorite but would include Prisoner of Zenda (the 1952 remake is abominable), Random Harvest, Talk of the Town. Among the silents I particularly like The Winning of Barbara Worth (yes this elegant man actually did a wonderful Western); plus Kiki (with Norma Talmadge) and Her Night of Romance with Norma’s sister Constance Talmadge.
So glad to learn of another Colman fan. Thanks so much for visiting. Please come back again!
Random Harvest. Boy he was great.
I too discovered Colman watching and listening to A Tale of Two Cities. I was 13 and was just casually listening to the film while doing something else when I heard the “voice” and was transfixed. I had never before heard a voice of such beauty and I intently watched the rest of the film. Since then, I concentrated on getting a hold of everything else he did. For years, tried to find a copy of The Light That Failed until finally I succeeded. I consider it possibly his greatest performance as an actor, although there are so many. Colman has been called the most successful silent screen actor making the transition to talking pictures. And you can see in his mannerisms on screen what a successful silent screen actor he must have been. It is regrettable that he limited the number of films he made and it is regrettable that his style of acting went somewhat out of fashion in Hollywood during the middle 1940s and after or he would have made many more films. My only real regret is that he didn’t do Rebecca. If anyone could have done it better than Olivier, I think it might have been Ronald Colman.
Thanks for your comments Vincent; we appreciate all the fans who remember and still love classic movies.