MovieChat Forums > The Story of Mankind (1957) Discussion > Ronald Colman vs Vincent Price

Ronald Colman vs Vincent Price

posted 12 years ago by vinidici
7 replies | jump to latest

Two of Hollywood's greatest "voices!"

Even though "The Story of Mankind" is about as hokey, unintentionally funny and as full of fractured history as an Hollywood flick can possibly get, it's still worth watching for the "debate" and witty repartee` between Colman's "Spirit of Mankind" and Price's Satan, living up to his name literally as "the accuser."

As to the sound and quality of each man's voice, I'd have to say that Ronald Colman has THE greatest speaking voice in all filmdom, bar none! Vincent Price is always watchable and "listen to-able" but Colman can "talk circles" around Price, any day!

Amazing, that Colman, who was a pretty big star during the silent era, had dreaded the day when the switch over to "talkies" might put an end to his career! (Though that very thing happened to many a great silent film star.)

Forget all the other actors in this movie, just sit back, close your eyes, and listen to the velvet voices of Colman and Price striving against each other with the fate of you and me hanging in the balance! (Well, DON'T foget a lot of them, it's kinda interesting to see the now elderly Francis X. Bushman--best remembered today for the 1925 version of Ben-Hur as the former friend of the hero turned deadly foe--and Dennis Hopper in the same movie??? Wow.)

Whatever you do, DO NOT read this sig--ACKKK!!! TOO LATE!!!

[–] hobnob53 10 years ago

Good point about Colman and Price. But it's not just their voices, it's their chemistry, and the light touch they bring to this mishmash. Both realized they were in a stupid movie and obviously decided just to relax, treat it lightly, and do their best...which in this case meant not taking it too seriously while not overtly making fun of it, a difficult balancing act these two pros could and did pull off.

Price had a great line when he tells Colman that he (the Devil) "knows nothing about art." That was a cute in-joke since Vincent Price had a degree in art, was a renowned art expert and owned a famous art gallery in Beverly Hills with George Macready. Colman's sardonic glance at him rounds out the scene perfectly.

[–] Big G-2 10 years ago

As someone who watched THE BRADY BUNCH, Robert Reed on occasion did a British accent (the pilot episode especially). Looking back, to me, it always sounded like he was imitating Ronald Coleman!

Coleman and Price were the only two individuals worth talking about in an otherwise not-so-good movie (and I think I am being kind when I say that). Although, I do have to admit that Price's Mr. Scratch sometimes makes a more compelling argument mankind!

[–] hobnob53 10 years ago

I think Mr. Scratch only had to draw the judges' attention to the movie they were in the midst of making to win his case and seal mankind's fate!

I also like Nick Cravat, Burt Lancaster's old partner, as Mr. Scratch's mute but expressive assistant.

[–] Big G-2 10 years ago

Ha! Good one hobnob!

[–] hobnob53 10 years ago

Ka-BOOM!!!

Take that, Irwin Allen!

[–] tomtac 8 years ago

Indeed. Blows smoke out his ears and Price says "None of that here!"

I gather, from imdb, that Cravat made a nice career out of playing little strange guys.

[–] rosearienh 7 years ago

How funny that I should be sitting here watching it and thinking that I would put up with a bad movie just to hear Colman speak. Price is no slouch, but yes, Colman is perfect.