Of Terrible Or Not So Terrible Cinematographical Representations of Robespierre and the CSP...

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

To follow victoriavandal's post on Terror! Robespierre and the French Revolution!: listened the audio and got the name of the actor playing Robespierre: Stephen Hogan.

After a little googling, I think I found photos...!

May I be the first to say that they didn't put a lot of budget on his wig.


Aw, Committee of Public Safety... I won't say anything. Like, how my only way to identify Couthon is that: he must the one in the wheelchair. Well, that sums up the usual "attribute" and "characteristic" given to Couthon. Now, where is Saint-Just...! Oh, the mysteries...!


I don't know why, but he kinda makes me think of Dennis DeYoung... -_-;

Comments

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

The physical resemblance is hardly what I'd call striking. And Couthon looks about sixty! I have a feeling Saint-Just is probably the one in the blue coat next to Couthon and behind Robespierre, though I sincerely hope not, as it seems he and La Revellière-Lépeaux have acquired the same hairdresser. >.>

[victoriavandal.livejournal.com]

Hm, they must have thought - he's in a wheelchair, so he must be old! Well, at least the Robespierre actor's about the right age (in the 1930's Scarlet Pimpernel, he's geriatric!).

[(Anonymous)]

Though one thing I must admit: Robespierre looks very MASCULINE in this one (in spite of the piece of sheep-skin on his head - I won't call it a wig)

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

That does seem to be the norm; I've rarely seen Robespierrre portrayed as being the right age; if he's not 75, he's at least 45 instead of 35. I think Couthon may get off rather better here than he does in, say, Gance's Napoléon--at least here he doesn't have the appearance of being completely off his rocker. Which is not to say that I don't object to their making him old (and apparently fat too, which is a worse sin these days, it seems)...

[trf-chan.livejournal.com]

But - but...! The randomly inserted pet rabbit! How can you not miss the rabbit? D:

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

True, that portrayal did have its good points. XD

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

Usual. I believe it would be him as well. >_>;; Fast! To another hairdresser!~

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

*sighs* I suppose it would have been too difficult to actually consult one of his portraits?

[(Anonymous)]

Poor Couthon, he's so badly treated in the cinema (and so forgotten by today's robespierristes :-). From every single portrait of him, as well as from the testimonies it is clear that he was quite handsome, gentle-looking man in his late thirties. Moreover, it is generally known that in personal contact he was kind and had a sense of ironic humor. Oh, how naïve I was believing that historical evidence may convince even medieval-minded filmmakers for whom disabled=ugly=bitter=bad person. OK, he is responsible for the Prairial Law, but for that he could obviously be criticized in another, more rational way than through being depicted as rude (Wajda's Danton), ugly, old (almost everywhere), insignificant (RF and even the admired La Terreur et La Vertu).

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

One of these days I'm going to write Couthon a decent biography. One that's actually readable. I don't know how much it will help his portrayal in movies, but one never knows...

[neuropathology.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't know...It has the same floppy and damp-chic asthetic, but the bangs lack that extra special silliness that screams "MAMA'S KITCHEN SCISSORS."

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Hm, they look awfully similar to me. Maybe Saint-Just just got the hairdresser on a good day.

[neuropathology.livejournal.com]

...MAMA'S KITCHEN SCISSORS!