Elsa Lanchester Biography

Celebrating the extraordinary life and career of Elsa Lanchester. Definitive biography 'Bride of the Hunchback' coming in 2025 from @FAB_Press.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

NEWS. Five minutes ago I sent the final draft of my manuscript, version 3.7, to my publisher Harvey. It's happening, people. Bride of the Hunchback will be published this year. More details will be available via this account as and when they are confirmed. Stay tuned.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

@gian_ozumomo I have watched all three. Day-Dreams is the best one, but as you are aware, it's only viewable in the BFI archives.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

100 years ago today ... Elsa was in the cast of Chez Nous, an intimate cabaret broadcast by BBC radio from the Cavour restaurant.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

Rare photo of Charles as Henry VIII with 4 of his 6 wives: Anne of Cleves (Elsa), Katherine Howard (Binnie Barnes), Catherine Parr (Everley Gregg), Anne Boleyn (Merle Oberon). (Jane Seymour [Wendy Barrie] evidently unavailable that day. Catherine of Aragon is not in the film.)

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

@Reelreviewer Everyone disliked Jack Pierce, because he was an absolute perfectionist.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

These posed photos of Elsa "touching up her make-up" on set always make me smile because there was no way Jack Pierce would ever let an actor touch *his* make-up! The fourth pic shows the truth: Pierce standing over Elsa ensuring she doesn''t damage his work for a publicity shot.

[Loren Chantla🇺🇸🇮🇱✡️✝️ @lorenchantland]

I paint commissioned portraits. Elsa Lanchester as the bride of Frankenstein. Yes, this is a physical 18x24 painting in oil, not AI. Any requests?

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

Early conceptual discussions happening around the cover. I don't want it to be just a generic Bride of Frankenstein publicity portrait, but on the other hand the Bride is the iconic image, and we need something that will grab people's attention as a small jpeg. It's tricky.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

@lilchiva @NyarlathoSteph Interesting. Charles had two brothers: Frank (also gay) and Robert, always known as Tom to avoid confusion with their father. I don't think either had children but there was also an illegitimate half-brother who I believe had a family of his own so that's probably your link.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

@FunMovieTVFan You seem to have missed someone.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

Okay folks. While I'm busy proofreading the book here's a treat for you. It's Elsa reprising a song from her 1926 hit revue Riverside Nights as part of her 1961 one-woman show. Bonus prohibition anecdote thrown in for free! https://t.co/3AJi7mWgab

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

@MarkHay55822123 How does it damage their reputations? Actors have always done adverts. For example, here's Robert De Niro for Warburtons Bagels: https://t.co/ovfK8jDmPp

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

Too late to include mention in the book, here's something mildly wonderful - an early 1960s magazine advert for 'instant tea' (which sounds revolting). I don't believe for a moment Elsa wrote this herself!

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

@MarkHay55822123 Why are you shocked? Ever since advertising existed, celebrities have been paid to endorse products. There's no moral aspect to 'instant tea' (however revolting it sounds!) so why would C&E turn down whatever agency approached them?

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

@PaintingsLondon Doris Zinkeisen had many connections with Elsa. Designed costumes for plays she was in, shared an address briefly, and she was James Whale's reguar dance partner at the Cave of Harmony.

[Paintings of London @PaintingsLondon]

'Elsa Lanchester' by Doris Clare Zinkeisen (1898–1991)

(National Portrait Gallery, London)

[Shaun Berkey @shaunberkey]

@ElsaBiog Come see this week's Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations at https://t.co/de41cL8rYb which includes Ms. Lanchester.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

Here's a nice find: a rare trade ad for 1931 drama The Stronger Sex, including a still of Elsa as Thompson the maid. I have watched the only copy of this film, held in the BFI archives. You're not missing anything.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

Good meeting today with my publisher and designer. The text is all laid out, ready for first stage proofing. Discussions about the cover image. One thing I can promise you: it will NOT be just a generic publicity shot of the Bride.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

@Liunt21 @carpinchor123 No she wasn't.

[Elsa Lanchester Biography @ElsaBiog]

Argentinian poster for Elsa's only post-Bride starring role, Passport to Destiny (1944).