Gregory's girl

A few months ago Yarnstorm conducted a poll on the comparative merits of Mr. Grant and Mr. Peck. The choice was between the smooth, suave, ultra-sophisticated Cary

and the deeper, darker, horn-rimmed Gregory. I can't remember now who won but I voted for the latter. His most famous role, Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, was influential in my choice of career, such is the power of films and books.

     Though few men have ever been, as it were, pinned to Cornflower's wall, Mr. P is not the only one to have made the heart beat faster. My teenage self fell for the unlikely romantic hero Pierre Bezukhov in "War and Peace", first on the page then in the form of Anthony Hopkins in the television adaptation. I wrote to Mr. H asking for advice on going into the acting profession (crazy as it seems now, at one time I wanted to go on the stage). To my immense surprise and delight, he took the trouble to write me a two-page letter in reply. I still find him an intriguing, fascinating man.

    I had a crush on Melvyn Bragg for a while (I am amused to recollect) and once hung around outside his house hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Tom Conti was another.   

     But who would make your ideal companion, and have you ever actually met them? Are they alive or dead, fictional or real, and what is it about them that excites? Do the passions of our younger days endure, or do we move on, grow up, our tastes changing with age and insight? I'm still Gregory's girl, but ........    

Comments

[Peter the Flautist]

Some of Literate Cat's youthful passions certainly persist to this day. In terms of ideal companions I would have loved to have met, eaten and drunk with, talked to ... Colette. Her writing was tremendously influential to me as a teenager in all sorts of ways, from reinforcing my love of France (and its food and wines) to her insight into emotions and passions, particularly those between men and women. If only I had 1/100 th of her compassion and generosity. We certainly would have shared a passion for cats!

Miaow!

[Dee]

Hugh Laurie. *swoon*

I don't know when I liked him better - as the dippy, but sartorially perfect Bertie Wooster, or as the caustic troubled House M.D.

What a man, what a man, what a mighty fine man.

[sherry]

Mr Darcy!!!

[tara]

Embarassing to admit now, but I used to be completely infatuated with Tom Cruise in my early teen years. Now I just find him rather creepy.

Now? Colin Firth. He always makes my heart race a bit.

[Lisa W]

I always loved Robert Redford. When I say that, people will usually comment that he hasn't aged well. But in my opinion, he was and is a beautiful man. From your side of the Atlantic, Colin Firth and Hugh Laurie would rank high. Okay, okay, I do have a weakness for Hugh Grant. Should I blush?

[Peg]

Oh, Gregory Peck, aka Atticus Finch, he was a favourite of mine too.
In the 1940s and 50s, there were movie magazines (probably still are) and my friends and I made scrapbooks of our favourite movie actors. From those times, I loved Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner. I also like Robert Redford!
Now someone I would love to sit and have a meal with - that would be Elizabeth Zimmermann! I just think she had a phenomenal mind and I would love her advice on life and knitting.
That was truly amazing that Anthony Hopkins took the time to pen a letter to a young girl and hopefully give her good advice on becoming an actress. I would think from your eventual choice that he may have persuaded to look elsewhere than the stage!! But when you think of it, a trial lawyer is certainly on a 'stage'!

[SkyeAxon]

Ahhh, Anthony Hopkins, yup, he still has it and I'm an admirer of his since I was a teen...I'm now in my 40's. I recently flew to Seattle to see him present his film "Slipstream" and receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Seattle International Film. He is a fascinating person. His life and career are very interesting, in the commentary and Q & A his amazing gift as a mimic and storyteller had the audience enthralled and entertained as he shared his experiences. Hopkins and his wife Stella drove to Seattle from California...he loves road trips...not the usual mode of transport for Hollywood greats!...but, after seeing and hearing him speak I believe that he is just a regular guy who happens to be the best actor on the planet.
If you would like to see a video I edited from the pics I took at the SIFF, it is on my website.

[rosie]

Bamber Gascoine (sigh, swoon). Getting booted out of uni when I was 20 did rather foil my plan of appearing on University Challenge. By the time I finally made it onto a college team and into the pre-selection (as a mature student about 4 years ago)Jeremy Paxman was quizmaster, so I wasn't too upset when we couldn't meet the filming schedule...

[Melissa!]

In high school a friend & I heard Tom Hanks was filming on the streets of a town 45 minutes south of us, we almost skipped school to try to find him but chickened out.
I have a thing for Hugh Grant...sigh...Hugh Jackman particularly in "Kate & Leopold". My husband has adorable friends - they're are all prep school boys like in "Dead Poets Society"...hmmm, time to pop in a movie, I say! :D

[Robin]

Oh, Gregory Peck, for sure! And now that I'm rereading To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time since high school, he is back in my mind and my heart again, after all these years!!

[Fiberjoy]

You ask the most intriguing questions. A lawyer's mind at play.

Gregory Peck - the classic man!

Cary Grant spent some time between movies working at a lumber camp in the hills not far away. One of my good friends lived in the house where he ate his meals. When I'd spend the night with her we'd wonder if he'd stayed in that very room. (early teens) For quite some time he was romantically attached to a wealthy local girl. They were even engaged for a whle.

[Harriet Devine]

No contest between Peck and Grant -- Peck every time. Colin Firth I absolutely agree with. I also love Sean Connery who has improved immeasurably with age, and used to love Harrison Ford, who hasn't, alas.

[Nan]

What a fun, fun post. My husband's mother was a big Gregory Peck fan. I must admit that Hugh Grant just gets better and better. That little crinkle is adorable. I liked Hugh Laurie in Peter's Friends and Jeeves & Wooster, not so much in House. I really liked the actor in A Man and A Woman, Pierre Barouh. And Matt Damon always. The actor who plays Sawyer on LOST, Josh Holloway, is pretty amazing. As for the younger fellows, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a fave of both my daughter and I. And for the dead guys, I love Cary Grant and Fred Astaire.

[Tui M.]

What about Daniel Day-Lewis or Ralph Fiennes?

Can't choose between Peck and Grant - may I have both?

[Juxtabook]

I with Tui - can't chose between Peck and Grant! Paul Newman maybe too!