tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post1130753829185696345..comments2024-03-29T03:14:50.002-04:00Comments on Frankensteinia: The Frankenstein Blog: The Gentlemanly Madness of Lionel AtwillPierre Fournierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16109698812799559366noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-33138111055136092652014-08-02T00:41:57.644-04:002014-08-02T00:41:57.644-04:00Atwill was 'the maddest doctor of them all'...Atwill was 'the maddest doctor of them all' playing each role with great bravado.<br />As his illness began to overtake him, during the final scenes of House of Dracula, you can hear him cough, off screen. He passed away during the filming of the serial Lost City of the Jungle, and stand ins were strategically used in order to complete the film.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-69783716989539360722012-04-30T15:52:44.380-04:002012-04-30T15:52:44.380-04:00I'm watching 'Son of Frankenstein' on ...I'm watching 'Son of Frankenstein' on my DVR right now and came across your excellent blog. Your recounting of Lionel Atwill's scandal and the tragedy of his final years is by far the best I've read on line. I'm surprised nobody's made some sort of latter-day bio of Atwill. I can't believe it would be off limits at this point. What a marvelous actor, and never better than in the movie I'm watching now!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-83062016811959977322010-03-08T15:54:49.438-05:002010-03-08T15:54:49.438-05:00Craig: Perfectly agreed on both counts. Again, I r...Craig: Perfectly agreed on both counts. Again, I relied on contemporary news items. I haven't found a reliable source for the cause of death revision. Perhaps his son?Pierre Fournierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16109698812799559366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-26071672882834607652010-03-03T10:27:41.829-05:002010-03-03T10:27:41.829-05:00Pierre, I think that may have been because:
1. Th...Pierre, I think that may have been because:<br /><br />1. Then, the term "cancer" itself was almost a dirty word.<br /><br />2. Then, (as now) many in the public eye try to downplay the specifics of their ailment.<br /><br />Most modern sources list bronchial/lung cancer as the cause of Atwill's death; though of course, pneumonia is often a contributing factor in many cases where another illness has compromised the system.<br /><br />Best,<br />-Craigwich2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-64430940751748979822010-03-02T23:44:09.567-05:002010-03-02T23:44:09.567-05:00..if its got Lionel in it..Its gonna be alright ;o.....if its got Lionel in it..Its gonna be alright ;o)Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01165402182512034384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-36660146733524643702010-03-02T15:55:40.271-05:002010-03-02T15:55:40.271-05:00I love Lionel, and I always think of him as one of...I love Lionel, and I always think of him as one of the grand, classic horror men, up there with Boris, Bela and Lon. <br /><br />Craig: Regarding cause of death, I relied entirely on contemporary news reports. Quotes here:<br /><br />Ludington Daily News, Apr 23, 1946<br />Atwill, 61, died at his Pacific Palisades home Monday night soon after suffering a relapse of pneumonia with which he was stricken several weeks ago, but from which he was believed recovering.<br /><br />St.Petersburg Times, Apr 23, 1946<br />Lionel Atwill, Actor, Dies… from a pneumonia attack.<br /><br />The Milwaukee Journal, Apr 23, 1946<br />…died… from a long illness… He has been confined to his bed more than a month after returning to his studio too soon after partially recovering from pneumonia.<br /><br />Syndicated columnist Walter Winchell was a bit late reporting, tersely, on Apr 24: <br />Lionel Atwill is in a coma.<br /><br />The last news item found on Atwill is from Hugh Dixon’s “Hollywood” column in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 6, 1946:<br />Lionel Atwill left an estate of more than $250,000 to his widow and six-month old son.Pierre Fournierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16109698812799559366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-54302629409999958202010-03-02T14:47:11.617-05:002010-03-02T14:47:11.617-05:00Very nice and concise recap of a fascinating caree...Very nice and concise recap of a fascinating career. And a lovely tribute to the actor and the man.<br />Happy birthday, Pinky.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16852486439841044107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-25242338789648954802010-03-02T09:34:56.992-05:002010-03-02T09:34:56.992-05:00In the long history of Mad Scientists in the Movie...In the long history of Mad Scientists in the Movies, nobody did it better. He is yet to be equalled.<br /><br />Great article, as always.The Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5112951555998191786.post-292235429549190022010-03-02T09:34:32.712-05:002010-03-02T09:34:32.712-05:00Pierre, a great salute to a real talent.
In the i...Pierre, a great salute to a real talent.<br /><br />In the interest of accuracy, though, I've always read that the cause of "The Other Lionel's" (I love Barrymore, two) death was cancer?<br /><br />-CraigWich2noreply@blogger.com