I Was Talking To My Wife...

[thebitterguy]

...about the new Batman movies. We're both pretty pleased with the casting that's happened in them, but for some reason I'm just not that pleased with Michael Caine as Alfred. I mean, he's in no way a bad performer, but I just don't think he's right for the role. Who, she asked, would I like to see?

That's when it hit me. Stephen Fry. He should play every butler ever. Or at least Alfred and Jarvis both.

Seriously. I mean it. The feelings he can convey just by pursing his lips in various ways require the entire bodies of lesser actors.

So, yes: Stephen Fry For Every Butler Ever.

She was horrified. Surely, you realise, you'll be putting every English actor over 55 out of work?

But I think they'll be willing to make the sacrifices.

Comments

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

I had the same feeling as you at the beginning of Batman Begins and later, during Iron Man. But I got over it eventually because as much as I love the Fry I think it's good that they aren't all him. Save Jeeves for the special occasions. He's like the good china.

[waiwode.livejournal.com]

I express concurrence.

Every butler role that Fry filled would, in my opnion, diminish his work as Jeeves.

This is also why after seeing Anthony Hopkins as the restrained and repressed butler Mr Stevens in The Remains of the Day I'd never want to see him as a butler again.

Doug.

[elizard100.livejournal.com]

I adore Stephen Fry but since he's currently only 50 as per wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Fry), does this mean that in 5 years he would have to stop playing butlers?

He's not in nearly enough things. That whole group that came to public attention in the 80s, French and Saunders, Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Ruby Wax, Fry and Laurie, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Brannagh, Imelda Staunton, aside from being featured in the Harry Potter movies they're just not seen enough by North American audiences, Mr. Laurie being the exception. I've actually been thinking the last few years how Stephen Fry really should be in the Harry Potter movies. He'd have made a fantastic Cornelius Fudge I think.

[kartusch.livejournal.com]

I have always felt Alfred could only be rightly played by Jeeves. They are both the embodiment of supreme Gentleman's Gentlemen. I think all minor butler work can be handled ok by Victor Garber.

[stop-no-dont.livejournal.com]

I dunno, Michael Gough (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gough) was hard to replace as Alfred, in my eyes.

Speaking of Jarvis -- or, at least, of the "Jarvis" we hear in Iron Man -- is it me, or was this characterization influenced a bit by Caine's Alfred?

[cargoweasel.livejournal.com]

No work for every English actor over 55? Not as long as there's movies involving wizards!

[optimussven.livejournal.com]

Seriously, Fry is Jeeves.