Period Drama Actor: Alan Rickman

Last week we lost a very talented actor who portrayed a wide variety of characters in his 69 years. Every Janeite or Period Drama fan will easily recognize our own dear Colonel Brandon from Sense & Sensibility (1995). Here's a look at some of those roles and a bit about the actor's life and some quotes.

Interesting Facts:

Full Name: Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman

Height: 6' 1"

Born: 21 February 1946, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Married To: Rima Horton, who he met in college in 1965. Alan once said: "She's incredibly tolerant. Unbelievably tolerant. Possibly a candidate for sainthood."

Short Bio: Parents are Bernard Rickman and Margaret Doreen Rose. Has English, Irish and Welsh ancestry. Before becoming an actor, he studied graphic design at Chelsea College of Art and Design and at the Royal College of Art, forming a successful graphic design company, Graphiti, with several friends. He didn't start acting until he was twenty-eight year old. During his time at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, he worked as a dresser for actors. Called stage acting his "first love" and often took breaks from film and television to preform in plays. Lost his short but difficult battle with cancer on 14 January 2016.

Personal Quotes:

"I do take my work seriously and the way to do that is not to take yourself too seriously."

"I approach every part I'm asked to do and decide to do from exactly the same angle: who is this person, what does he want, how does he attempt to get it, and what happens to him when he doesn't get it, or if he does?"

"I don't play villains, I play very interesting people."

~*~

A Few Of His Roles:

Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet (1978 TV Movie)

One of Mr. Rickman's first television roles was as Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet. He looked so young! I tried to find a video clip but alas there are none available on YouTube.

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Obadiah Slope in The Barchester Chronicles (1982 TV Mini-Series) 

Besides Sense and Sensibility (1995) this has to be my second favorite of Mr. Rickman's period drama roles. Obadiah is a slick operator with a pious air who at once makes the viewer laugh and cringe! Below is a few funny scenes that a YouTuber put into a video, the last one with Obadiah falling flat on his behind always makes me laugh!

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Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

I don't really recommend this film but this rather odd version of the classic Robin Hood story is proof positive that Alan Rickman was excellent at portraying bad guys! An interesting happening in this film sees Alan Rickman acting alongside Geraldine McEwan for the second time, the first time being in The Barchester Chronicles.

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Colonel Christopher Brandon in Sense and Sensibility (1995)

This is definitely my most favorite role that Mr. Rickman has taken on. In this film he perfectly captured the kind, gentle and passionate nature of the mature army colonel who finds true love with the passionate Marianne Dashwood. When I think of this adaptation some of the loveliest scenes that come to mind include Colonel Brandon showing his true love for Marianne by putting her needs and the needs of her family above his own needs. Below is a clip of my most favorite Colonel Brandon scene where he reads a poem from Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene to Marianne.

My heart melts into a puddle after viewing this scene! Yes, Alan Rickman is definitely my favoritest Colonel Brandon of all time! And I for one don't mind in the least that Emma Thompson made up a first name for this Jane Austen hero, there is something handsome in the sound of Christopher Brandon! Also check out this short interview from the set of the film.

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A few other roles:

• Voice of Blue Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland (2010) & Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
• Professor Severus Snape in eight Harry Potter films (I've never seen them myself but it's one of his best known roles)
• Alexander Dane in Galaxy Quest (an oddball sci-fi flick where he plays an alien)
• Voice of Marvin the depressed robot in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (alongside Martin Freeman and Bill Nighy!)

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His Voice

One of the most interesting and lovely things about Alan Rickman was his unique voice. Here's a recording of him reading Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 in his rich smooth voice (or "dark foreboding tones" as Anne Shirley might say).

~*~

So here's to the incredible Mr. Alan Rickman. You dear sir will be sadly missed. Below is a video clip that made me tear up when I watched it because while writing this post I felt like Marianne in the scene. Thank you our Colonel Brandon! You were a true gem and will never be forgotten.

~*~


What is your favorite Alan Rickman role?

How many of these films have you viewed?

Gentlemen Of Period Dramas Eyes Quiz - Answers!!!

Finally here are the answers to the Gentlemen Of Period Dramas Eyes Quiz!!! I'm so sorry it took this long to post this, the biggest thing was putting together the video, it's fun but very time consuming. Thank you all for playing!

Gentlemen Of Period Dramas Eyes Quiz - Answers


Players Scores:

Emma Jane - 177 points

Miss Sneyd - 174 points 

Birdie - 167 points

Melody - 157 points 

Naomi Bennett - 149 points

Chloe Cruz - 114 points

Austin Wentworth - 107 points

McKenna - 66 points

Larissa - 55 points

Kimberley Grace Bowman - 46 points

Thanks for playing!

Gentlemen Of Period Dramas Eyes Quiz!

Quite a while ago I posted a Ladies Of Period Dramas Eyes Quiz that was well received. I've been working on another video quiz featuring the gentlemen of period dramas.


To Play: Look at the 75 photos of eyes of gentlemen from period dramas in the video below. Leave a comment guessing which Character, Actor and Period Drama each pair of eyes comes from. I'll respond with your score. Guess as many times as you wish. An answers video will be posted next week.

Scoring: 1 point for each correctly guessed Character, Actor and Period Drama. A high score of 225 points can be earned.

Gentlemen Of Period Dramas Eyes Quiz

Note: If your comment is long, you may want to split up your answers in two comments so that it won't be cut off.

Enjoy!

Something Special For You

I was introduced to this video earlier this week and knew I had to share it with all of you! The style of the video is really cool but the message contained in it is so truthful and meaningful!



Reverse Thinking

Isn't that neat? Gives me goosebumps every time! So good! :)

There's Something In The Water!

Take a look at what's in the water! It's pretty fantastic!

 

Isn't that great? Makes me laugh! :)

"It's Colin Firth, but not as we know him. He's 12 feet tall and made of fiberglass.

A statue of brooding Mr. Darcy, the character played by Oscar-winner Firth in Pride and Prejudice, was installed Monday in Serpentine Lake in London's Hyde Park." - from USA Today

"The statue of superhuman proportions has been temporarily installed in the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park, London, and will tour the UK before settling at its final home in Lyme Park, Cheshire, where the eye-catching scene was filmed." - The Guardian

Very ironic that the statue depicts Mr. Darcy from P&P 1995 and not the real Mr. Darcy of the novel. It's not my favorite scene, in fact I thought it is a bit ridiculous, but the statue is so funny! Hahahaha! 

How would you like to go swimming or boating and see Mr. Darcy in the lake?  

Austenland (2013) Trailer & Clips!

There's been a lot of publicity lately about the new film Austenland (2013) based on the book by Shannon Hale. I haven't read the book so am not exactly sure whether to recommend it or the film but the whole idea of a Jane Austen fan going to a Regency themed resort sounds hilarious. The film is rated PG-13 so there will be some language and maybe some innuendo that won't be appropriate for young viewers.

Storyline: Austenland is a romantic comedy about 30-something, single Jane Hayes, a seemingly normal young woman with a secret: her obsession with Mr. Darcy-as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice-is ruining her love life; no real man can compare. But when she decides to spend her life savings on a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined.


Official Trailer:



 Two Clips & Interview:
(for some reason the videos aren't staying in my post but there are links to clips and an interview below.)


Unmentionables Clip



Hunting Clip



Austenland at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival


Cast:

Keri Russell as Jane Hayes (heroine)

Other Period Films: The Magic Of Ordinary Days

J.J. Feild as Mr. Henry Nobley

Other Period Films: Northanger Abbey (2007), The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001), Poirot: Death On The Nile, The Ruby in the Smoke, The Shadow in the North, Marple: Pale Horse, Captain America

Jane Seymour as Mrs. Wattlesbrook

Other Period Films: Our Mutual Friend (1976), Somewhere In Time, The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), Heidi (1993), Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman (TV series), Marple: Ordeal By Innocence

Bret McKenzie as Martin

Other Films: The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit

James Callis as Colonel Andrews

Other Period Films: Arabian Nights, The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999), Victoria and Albert, One Night With The King, BBC Merlin

Ricky Whittle as Captain George East

His first period film role.

Georgia King as Lady Amelia Heartwright

Other Period Films: Little Dorrit (2009), Jane Eyre (2006), The Shadow in the North, Poirot: Hollowe'en Party, BBC Merlin

Production Photos:
The costumes and scenery are bright and colorful!

Looks interesting, no?

Have you read Austenland?

Do you think you'll watch Austenland (2013)?

How would you like to go to a Jane Austen themed resort?

Period Musical Lyrics Game Answers!

Bonus Question: What musical does this photo come from?
Answer: State Fair (1954)

Here are the answers for the Period Musical Lyrics Game from last week. I'm linking each of the song titles to YouTube videos that include the song (most are movie clips) for your enjoyment.
It was great to see how many of these musicals y'all recognized! :)

Musical Song Lyrics Answers:

Song #1

There's a sad sort of clanging

From the clock in the hall

And the bells in the steeple, too

And up in the nursery

An absurd little bird

Is popping out to say coo-coo

Answer: So Long, Farewell from The Sound of Music

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Song #2

We never said our love was evergreen,

or as unchanging as the sea -

but if you can still remember,

stop and Think of Me

Answer: Think Of Me from The Phantom of the Opera

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Song #3

I dreamed last night I got on the boat to Heaven

And by some chance I had brought my dice along

And there I stood and I hollered, "Someone fade me"

But the passengers, they knew right from wrong

Answer: Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat from Guys and Dolls

Note: I was almost seventeen before I even knew where this song came from because my mom used to have this song (and Bushel and a Peck) on an old record album we used to listen to all the time when I was a little girl.

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Song #4

Are you the sweet invention

Of a lover's dream

Or are you really as

Beautiful as you seem

Answer: Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful? from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

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Song #5

Who cares what they're wearing

On main street or Seville row

It's what you wear from ear to ear

And not from head to toe that matters

Answer: You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile from Annie

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Song #6

Toot sweets sound like what they are

So do lollys in a lollypop jar

Gingerbread men have a gingerbread sound, we've found

Sugar plum cinnamon and lemon tart tell you what they are right from the 

start

And your name does the same for you

By coincidence, Truly Scrumptious

You're truly Truly Scrumptious

Scrumptious as a cherry peach parfait

Answer: Truly Scrumptious from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

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Song #7

While shivering in my shoes

I strike a careless pose

And Whistle A Happy Tune

And no one ever knows

I'm afraid.

The result of this deception

Is very strange to tell

For when I fool the people

I fear I fool myself as well!

Answer: I Whistle A Happy Tune from The King and I

~*~

Song #8

Someone use to cradle them and kiss them when the cried

Did you see them lying side by side?

Who will wake them?

No one ever will

Answer: Turning, Turning from Les Miserables

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Song #9

My dad said "Be an actor, my son

But be a comical one

They'll be standing in lines

For those old honky tonk monkeyshines"

Now you could study Shakespeare and be quite elite

And you can charm the critics and have nothin' to eat

Just slip on a banana peel

The world's at your feet

Answer: Make 'Em Laugh from Singin' In the Rain

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Song #10

There's a bright golden haze in the meadow

There's a bright golden haze in the meadow

The corn is as high as an elephants side

And it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky

Answer: Oh What A Beautiful Mornin' from Oklahoma!

~*~

Song #11

Still, Half a Sixpence

Is better than half a penny

Is better than half a farthing

Is better than none

It’s a token of

Our eternal love

When you’re far away

Touch it everyday

And, though, that Half a Sixpence

Can only mean half a romance

Remember that half a romance

Is better than none

Answer: Half A Sixpence from Half A Sixpence

Note: I've only seen this musical once and although the story is a bit odd I greatly enjoyed seeing Tommy Steele (The Happiest Millionaire, Finnian's Rainbow) in another musical!

~*~

Song #12

When the rhythm pounds

And the harmony sounds

And the melody rolls around

"Prest-o Change-o!"

We're Ten Feet Off the Ground

And when the rhythm pounds

And the harmony sounds

And the melody rolls around

Right from the down beat,

We can be found

Ten Feet Off the Ground

Answer: Ten Feet Off The Ground from The One And Only Genuine Family Band

Note: I've only seen this once and while it's excellent I always forget this song is in that film because I grew up hearing Michael Fienstein singing on his children's album Pure Imagination.

~*~

Players Scores:

Elizabeth Grace Foley - 110 points

E. Kate - 105 points

Idsjaneite - 105 points

beastsbelle - 100 points

Miss Dashwood - 100 points

Rhoswen Faerie Wrose - 100 points

Hamlette - 85 points

Kiri Liz - 70 points

Meredith - 65 points

Robyn Hoode - 55 points

Eva - 50 points

Emma Jane - 45 points

Katelyn - 30 points

Melody - 30 points

Thanks for playing!