Anna Kathryn Lanier
Caroline Clemmons
Isabel Roman
cloverautrey
courtneysheets
ddalton05
Diane Wylie
Mary Ann Webber
Nicole McCaffrey
Susan Macatee
victorianjenn
The news shows this morning are full of images from Patrick Swayze’s career. Most are showing clips from Dirty Dancing and Road House. And while I’ve seen both those movies and marveled both times at his deep, sexy voice and beautiful bod, I’m remembering a different Patrick Swayze, one the media has overlooked.
North and South, anyone? It was only one of the biggest miniseries of the 1980s. Who could forget the star crossed love affair of Orry Main and Madeline Fabray? Maybe it’s just the history lover in me, but I still find Patrick-as-Orry far sexier than Patrick-as-Johnny Castle or pretty much any other role he played. If you don’t believe me, check out this love scene between Orry and Madeline. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_0s5vz5TIs
As I mentioned to my fellow ACW bloggers this morning, I always thought that if there ever was a remake of Gone With the Wind (and I hope there never is! Can you imagine how bad Hollywood would screw it up?) Patrick would have made a great Ashley Wilkes. Can you imagine the smoldering sensuality he’d have contributed to that role? Scarlet would have a much harder time choosing between Rhett and Ashley!
What are your thoughts? If you were re-casting GWTW today, who would you pick? Patrick may have easily filled Leslie Howard’s shoes, but what about the other roles? Renee Zellweger in a dark wig? Scarlet Johansson? Nah, I don’t think so. They’d have to do a world wide search for unknowns (unless Delta Burke, who was always my pick for Scarlet when my friends and I used to have this conversation, suddenly finds a fountain of youth!)
Now I’m off to pull out my old VHS copies of North and South and remember Patrick in my own way.
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I’m not sure I can pick from today’s actors/actresses. I hope and pray Hollywood DOESN’T remake GWTW or North and South. They’d screw it up and frankly, I’m not sure the new crop has the chops it takes to make roles like these work.
Ah, Orry. How I’ll miss you.
I remember North and South! I thought the romance between Orry and Madeline was the most wildly romantic thing I’d ever seen. I may be remembering incorrectly, but I just see him limping down the long driveway of their plantation and reuniting with his family (after he’d tracked Madeline down, of course). Sigh.
Nicole–
you certainly brought back some memories when you brought up N&S. Patrick was marvelous in that series. My three daughters taped the series off the TV screen and REPLAYED IT ENDLESSLY during show storms, school breaks, periods of . . . ennui. I enjoyed it also, as I passed through the living room going from one chore to the next.
In the years since, they have purchased the sets for each other at Christmas or birthdays.
As for remaking GWTW, I think Patrick would make a great Rhett!
Kat Henry Doran