Talk:Elsa Lanchester

Rumours
I've edited a mention about the "rumoured" lesbianism of Elsa. I've read four books by and/or about her, plus several articles and mentions of her in several printed sources and I haven't found any reference about her being lesbian, the only mention of it being in a brief text in a website which passingly mentions her "being rumoured a lesbian" and doesn't give the source of such rumour, which I think is not solid backing for an statement. Have you any statement by an actual person expressing his or her knowledge or soundly-based suspicion that Lanchester was a lesbian? If not, a "rumour" is merely speculation. In her own account, she only mentions male lovers in her life. Regarding her husband's homosexuality, it is mentioned by many sources (books, documentaries) and people apart from Elsa (check bibliography given in the [Charles Laughton] article.Gloria Porta 21:34, 7 July 2006 (UTC)
 * It is a persistent rumor, with no solid evidence that I am aware of. However, persistent rumors may be notable in their own right, if discussed in reliable sources. - SummerPhD (talk) 18:25, 2 June 2011 (UTC)
 * @SummerPhD - "Persistent rumors" are just that, merely rumors. There are many examples in history where persistent rumors were not factual. Hey, there are many in effect right now that are not factual! She has admitted to two abortions, after all. Men are frequently involved. Apparently, from comments above, the reliable sources are absent here. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being born a lesbian, but this claim seems to imply it is used as a character assassination.
 * Thank you for your time, Wordreader (talk) 15:09, 18 March 2023 (UTC)

Photo
We don't need to see two identical photos in the same article --User:Brenont 02:11, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

An elder brother completed the family
Since her elder brother must have been born before Elsa it seems to me that it was the sister that completed the family. Perhaps I do not understand the meaning of the words. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 154.5.32.113 (talk) 22:05, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

Elsa's last film?
Re: Elsa's Filmography: The Internet Movie Database gives Lanchester's last film as being 'National Lampoon's Vacation' (1983) where it states she is 'Grandma' ("uncredited"). This would need to be verified as those who've seen the movie have no recollection of her appearance therein.

Re: the 'citations needed' for her 78s and for her appearance in 'The Party': these are clearly detailed in Simon Callow's 1987 biography of Laughton in (a) the Discography and (b) the Plays listing. One of the Lanchester 78s (both sides) has been uploaded onto You Tube: 'The Ladies Bar' and 'Don't Tell My Mother I'm Living in Sin'. Philipson55 (talk) 08:38, 22 October 2011 (UTC)

Early Life: cabaret turns
In section Early Life, the nominative phrase cabaret turns is unknown to this editor. A brief Google search turns up no definition. I suggest changing or eliminating this term. David Spector (user/talk) 13:02, 12 November 2012 (UTC)


 * A 'turn' in this context is an act or routine, so a 'cabaret turn' would be a set cabaret performance performed as a routine. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.150.100.238 (talk) 14:02, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Dick Cavett interview
I changed the year for this from 1972 to 1970 initially using IMDb as a source. That website is not RS, but I have found evidence that the Cavett interview in which she mentioned the background of her parents (and the Isadora film) must have occurred around the date (11 August 1970) IMDb claims. In this interview, Lanchester mentions that Dartmouth College is showing a season of Charles Laughton films (which has been running for "two or three weeks") and that she is attending shortly after the interview. The Toledo Blade (an Ohio newspaper) published a diary item on 30 July 1970 gives brief details of the event involvuing Lanchester and season at Dartmouth. French actor Alain Delon was interviewed straight after Lanchester in visual evidence which was out there when I typed these comments; he is listed as being on the 11 August 1970 programme too. So the evidence for 1970, rather than 1972, looks strong. Philip Cross (talk) 09:58, 2 January 2014 (UTC)

If it's of any help, the complete Lanchester interview with Cavett is on You Tube in two parts (before and after the commercial break):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcG0bnbF4Ec

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wz1cBUBbLA

Philipson55 (talk) 00:35, 10 February 2015 (UTC)