I recently read that one of the preliminary casting choices of The African Queen was Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester, which would have been absolutely adorable. I love seeing them act together, and if you want to see a taste of what they would have been like as Mr. Allnut and Rosie, check them out in The Beachcomber.
In this comedy, Elsa is a missionary among the heathens of a Polynesian island. Charles is the title character, a perpetually drunk--and very happy--beach bum who enjoys his women and his carefree life. Most of the movie is the offscreen couple's antagonistic relationship, but as soon as the tide turns and they start to like each other, it's incredibly cute. In one of my favorite scenes, they're stranded out in the rain, and Charles covers her with his coat. While I like Rembrandt infinitely better, this one is a lighter choice if you don't want an evening full of Kleenexes. As a bonus, you'll get to catch a glimpse of a pre-famous Robert Newton, who starred in a 1954 remake!
