Was John supposed to be attractive? - Northanger Abbey (2008) Discussion

[–] weaselfrance 17 years ago

John Thorpe in the novel wasn't meant to be attractive, physically or otherwise. He's physically unappealling, badly dressed, rude, bullying, arrogant and thoughtless. Catherine only tolerates him as he's her brother's friend and Isabella's brother.

What's a 'tard'?

You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope

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[–] coleburg83 17 years ago

Thank you. I know that about the novel, but I wondered if that was one of the changes in the movie and they thought that the actor was attractive.

A tard is a retard or mongoloid.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] cheetahcub_mk 17 years ago

Well, it's a no wonder then. He looked like a serial killer to me.

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[–] Sylvie17 16 years ago

I was confused too, because when he first appeared I thought I heard the Tilney guy refer to him like he was better looking than himself. So it made me look at him and wonder is he really supposed to be considered to be a good looking fellow? Cause he didn't appeal to me.

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[–] coleburg83 16 years ago

That's what I was referring to. I wondered if the casting people thought he was attractive.

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[–] kemp5280 16 years ago

i thought he was a great actor, but his looks scared me, frankly. i'm sure he'll have a long career as a character actor, though.

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[–] LadyAnne608 16 years ago

i kinda thought john looked like the french musical, "notre dame of paris" version of Quasimodo.

Joy Division- "She's Lost Control"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QVc29bYIvCM

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[–] geetarchick 16 years ago

I loved seeing William Beck as John just because I'm a huge Robin Hood fan and it was good seeing him since he was killed off in the series. But totally not what I pictured when I thought of John Thorpe. He got the slimy part right, but I too thought he'd be a little better looking...more suave or something like that.

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[–] helloeeze 16 years ago

John Thorpe kind of looked like a leprechan, I thought, especially with that hat.

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[–] wickedialogue 16 years ago

He looked like lecherous.

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[–] chalice1999 16 years ago

I too am an Robin Hood fan and was shocked when he was killed off the series too! I was more than shocked that he was going to play John Thorpe in the Northanger Abbey re-make. I didn't think William Beck was an attractive type, but I too think he will make a great character actor. I don't think he's supposed to be considered attractive here, but he plays wonderful as devious. :)

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[–] eden_echo 16 years ago

I know, the actor who plays him, to be shallow not the best looking dude in the world but I guess he got the part down pretty good (only read NA once, must read it again soon).

"I promise you, before I die I'll surely come to your doorstep"

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[–] maddisonmunster 16 years ago

he really creeped me out

end of

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[–] Suquamish 16 years ago

Me too. In fact he creeped me out so much that I thought it hurt the storyline because even someone as innocent and naive as Catherine should be repulsed by his manners and behavior.

Consider that: 1) he was dog-butt ugly 2) Catherine first notices him when he's staring/leering at her 3) he keeps saying "dammit" 3) he deliberately and unashamedly lies to her 4) he dances very crudely

I was left wondering why even sweet and good natured Catherine would not have said "later" to this person.

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[–] ChocolateIsMyDrug 16 years ago

I was left wondering why even sweet and good natured Catherine would not have said "later" to this person.

LOL... it mentions that she doesn't like him at all, but he was her best friend's brother as well as her brother's best friend, so she could hardly say 'later'.

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[–] sml7799 15 years ago

That's what makes the Thorpe character stick in my mind, dammit. His damnable habit of sneaking the word "damn" in some variation into all his damn sentences. Austen didn't write him like that did she? I have this ginormo doorstop of a book: "The Complete Works of Jane Austen" but thus far I've only got thru Pride & Prejudice and Sense &Sensibility. I think I'd like to tackle NA next.

Anyways, I suppose that specific "damn" habit was the screenwriters' doing, but perhaps the spirit of the character is the same. But like I've said, I have yet to read this one so I certainly don't know for sure.

But just based on the movie, I found Thorpe to be rather vile. And yet I sort of appreciated his repugnance, because I felt like it was a departure from the Austen formula. Seems like in all of Austen's novels the other man, the obstacle (the romantic red herring) is some ostensibly charming gent--too suave to be for real most of the time (whom we discover is some form of foul at heart) I love Austen, even if it adheres to formula. But still a small deviation from the norm is refreshing. Certainly makes him stand out in memory from Wickham & co. (well again, I feel bound to interject, I've only read 2..well, I read Mansfield Park also,but so long ago it's quite hazy in my memory..so I'm not counting it. But anyways, I guess this is a parenthetical disclaimer conceding that I just might be misled by unfaithful screen adaptations. I don't think I am...but just maybe. I hereby reserve the right to come back to this board after polishing off that *entire* doorstop-sized anthology and correct myself if needs be)

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[–] Unwanted_Birdtamer 15 years ago

Thorpe does indeed use the word several times in the book, but not quite as often as he does in the film.

Come, we must press against the tide of naughtiness. Mind your step.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

I thought the actor looked like Mick Jagger.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] holyabdul 16 years ago

I thought the actor looked like Brian Thompson (Shao Kahn from MK2). Although I didn't really look too hard at him.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0859921/

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[–] FletcherofLocksley 16 years ago

My friend and I call him the pumpkin-faced dude. I love William Beck though. I'm sad that his character on Robin Hood was killed off.

Go in with no expectations, come out with no disappointments.

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[–] crazy_child_of_the_south 16 years ago

Did anyone else find that he reminded them of Robert Webb, of Peep Show fame?

Only less attractive.

Laura xxx

I know writers who use sub-text and they're all cowards!

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[–] NjSa 15 years ago

yes i was reminded of him actually. I think it has something to do with the voice and blonde hair

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