Anthony Hopkins himself may not be as famous as his "Ogre" in "Silence of the Lambs." But it doesn't matter, if you have watched the "Silence of the Lambs" trilogy, you will definitely be impressed by the man-eating demon who doesn't appear much but has a powerful aura. But you may not know that this "ogre" with gray eyes and a back head is also good at playing a gentleman, and he is more gentleman than anyone else. People can't help but admire his broad acting skills and superb acting skills. Mentioned here are two old movies "84 Charing Cross Street" and "Farewell to the Sentient Heavens".
84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
84 Charing Cross, known as the "Bible for Readers", is a twenty-year (1949-1969) correspondence between author Helene Hanff and Frank, the manager of a used bookstore in London set. The American Columbia Film Company put it on the screen in 1986. The actor Frank is played by Anthony Hopkins, directed by David Hugh Jones and written by Hugh Whiteman.
The film changed the chronological order of the original book, starting from September 1951, when Helianto's friend visited the bookstore, first let us see a fashionable blond beauty entering a second-hand bookstore that "popped out of a Dickens book". Such an out of place scene makes people's appetite. Then start from the ground up with the story of a down-and-out author and a dutiful bookstore manager who bond over books.
In 1949, the down-and-out female writer Helene Hanff couldn't stand the vulgar but expensive used bookstores in New York, so she followed the advertisement in the newspaper and wrote to the Max Cohen Bookstore at 84 Charing Cross Street, London, asking for a purchase. Some out of print books. She didn't expect much at first, but what she didn't expect was that she received a reply letter and book very quickly. The letters linked the two together, and the story unfolded one after another. Facing Helen, who is straightforward and sloppy, can't figure out the exchange rate, but is very picky about the version and price of books, Frank not only meets her special book purchase requirements, but also often prepares her invoices in pounds and dollars, and returns them. extra books. At that time, the United Kingdom implemented material rationing, and the generous Hailian sent ham and sausages to the bookstore owner from the United States. In return, Frank travels everywhere in search of treasures. In a mansion, he received a collection of love poems from Elizabeth I, which Hailian never forgot, and gave her a birthday present in return in the name of all the staff of the bookstore.
Although the two have never met, they are old friends who know each other very well. It's not that there is no chance to meet, it's just that Hailian's life is in embarrassment, because she repeatedly misses opportunities to make a living and moving, and Frank is tired of family and work and can't get away. Almost 20 years later, in January 1969, Hailian received a letter from the bookstore that Frank died of illness. After 20 years of dating, but the fate of saving one side, let people sigh!
Hailian's lover died in war, free and unfettered; Frank has a wife and daughter, gentle and responsible by nature. It is difficult to say that there is no love in the correspondence of more than ten years, but no one has ever said it. Frank's wife wrote to Helen after his death to express her inner jealousy. Yes, my husband has been communicating with a woman for so many years. Although it is a legitimate business, any wife will complain about this kind of communication. Frank, however, remained restrained and forbearance. Just at a certain moment, he will pay attention to the woman in the store who is buried in the sea of books, maybe he is guessing in his heart: Could this be her? Often when the bookstore is closed and empty, his gray eyes stare at a certain place with infinite affection. When Helene Humph finally stepped into 84 Charing Cross, she was standing right where Frank stared affectionately. This detail is handled very wisely by the film.
In the book, Hailian said affectionately: "The kind man who sold me these good books passed away a few months ago, and the bookstore owner, Mr. Max, is no longer in this world. However, the bookstore is still there, and you just happened to pass the investigation. 84th Street, give me a kiss, I owe it a lot..."
I like the slow, tepid pace that the film maintains the most. Occasionally there will be a few waves, but then it will fall into the original calm and slow current, just like their 20 years of friendship, and like Frank's life of hard work and restraint.
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Adapted from Kazuo Ishiguro's 1989 Booker Prize-winning work "Scars of the Long Day" (or translated as "The Long Day Will End"). In this film, Anthony Hopkins plays a duke's butler, the standard English gentleman. A black tuxedo, a white vest, and a pocket watch chain hanging from the buttons.
Darlington House changed hands, and Stevens, the big housekeeper, needed help. Just then, Keaton, who used to be a housekeeper here,
The letter said that she was not doing well, that her marriage was unhappy, and that she was now looking for a job. Stevens wrote back immediately, saying that there was a shortage of people here and that she wanted her to come back. And he happened to be on vacation, so he could go to her place and take her back by the way.
The story of the two of them slowly kicked off on Stevens' vacation.
Keaton, as the new housekeeper, did not get along well with Stevens, but she gradually earned his trust and respect for her kindness and ability. Keaton, who is single, also has a crush on him. But as the head of a wealthy family, Stevens always strives to be a veritable gentleman according to the day his father gave him: even if there is a tiger in the living room, he must be calm and in danger. Depleted of true self in years of self-discipline and restraint. The political questions raised by the guests are never answered clearly, and they are just perfunctory with "I have no opinion on this".
When Keaton fell in love with him, he didn't show his heart at all, and even if he secretly fell in love, he always thought it was extremely inappropriate. Finally Keaton was disheartened and turned to others.
In the blink of an eye, many years have passed, the old house changed its owner, and the old owner was slandered by the media because of his closeness to Germany, and he died unjustly. Stevens set out to find an old love. His classic car broke down halfway through, and he was asked political questions at the hotel. This made him start to reflect on his past: when those big men asked him the question whether he should declare his position? Should Keaton do his best to convince his master when he protects a Jewish girl? This road is like a road of reflection and a road of repentance. The past is irreversible, at least - still, maybe he can return to him. He continued on his way to complete his redemption.
In both films, Hopkins plays a very similar character, a gentle, restrained and restrained old-school gentleman, as opposed to the ogre in the Silence of the Lambs series. Frank and Helen in "84 Charing Cross", and Stevens and Keaton in "The Marks of the Day", it's hard to say that there is no love. But they are limited by their identities and responsibilities, try their best to restrain themselves, and try to make themselves live a normal life as usual. Don't make a statement, show no emotion, or even show no emotion. Frank stared at the empty space affectionately and Stevens heard the expression when he deliberately announced his acceptance of the marriage proposal, one pure and one complicated, but they undoubtedly revealed the secret hearts of gentlemen. Frank died of illness and did not reveal any love after all. What will happen after Stevens reflects on it? This puzzle is still left to the readers to watch the movie.
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