First thing Friday morning, my mom, sister and Margaret arrived…
Things I Love Today: Foul Tempered Love Interests
I watched The English Patient for the first time yesterday. It’s a perfect sick day movie – long, slow and full of ill people.
Also, it contains one of the great archetypes of romantic films: the brooding, foul tempered, romantic hero. A sort of Byronic character that is somehow so appealing to all women. I had a whole list of examples yesterday, now I can only come up with three:
- Darcy – The king of the brooders and so well portrayed by Colin Firth. Absolutely disagreeable until the moment of love’s confession.
- Count Laszlo de Almásy – Moody gentleman explorer of the desert. Knows only two emotions: resentment and undying love.
- George Emerson – Awkwardly lacking in social graces or good humor. Excels in catching fainting women and romantic meadow scenes.
There must be a million more to add to this list. Who have I forgotten?
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Although not from a movie, this perfect reminds me of Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls. Dreamy! However, Mr. Darcy is the ultimate.
The Count of Monte Cristo.. has his reasons, but is still foul tempered.
Would we count Rick from Casablanca? I definitely find him quite brooding and moody, and I just can’t resist him.
I think Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights is my all-time favorite foul tempered love interest!!
Rochester from Jane Eyre (those Brontes had a lock on the brooders, didn’t they?)
I don’t know if he fits, he’s more agitated and annoyed than brooding, but I would say Cary Grants’ character in Bringing up Baby. He complains and grumbles throughout the whole movie but you still want him to end up with the very reason for his annoyance, Kate Hepburn!
no one to add, i just have to declare my love for colin firth as mr. darcy. swooney swoon swoon!
Definitely Cary Grant in that movie. What a great film!
Also, I think we can add the lead singer from Maroon 5 to this list. Sulky!
I too used to think of Mr. Darcy as the ultimate when it came to tall, handsome, brooding men. But I’ve found his replacement in Mr. John Thornton from North and South. Oh baby!