------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 227 of 239: Margaret Howard (Meggin) * Tue, Mar 18, 1997 (22:55) * 1 lines Boots=strong calves shown to best advantage!!!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 228 of 239: Susan (Susan) * Tue, Mar 18, 1997 (23:19) * 25 lines What a nice surprise to check in after two days and find so many wonderful messages! Where to begin? Mr. Knightly would understand Emma's innocence and be very gentle, but I do not think for a minute that he would not be passionate. Kim, yes, I have never for an instant doubted Mr. Knightley's passion, but then you already knew that, didn't you? #'s 201 and 203, Kathleen and Barbara -- beautiful interpretations of the proposal scene, with which ITA! #206, Kathleen -- When I first read the book I also didn't have a clue about Emma's feelings for Knightley until she finally realized them, and then I was very surprised later to find that he shared them. Kim, the first time I thought it really showed in Emma3 was in the scene where John and Isabella are visiting, and Emma and Knightley cannot bear to be at odds. Those looks! To me, Mark Strong is the perfect Mr. Knightly. I cannot help it; he does it for me. Especially in his hats! What you said, Kim! Kathleen, re #223 -- Good point regarding what happens to Harriet at Box Hill. I have always assumed that she eventually comes and gets in the carriage with Emma as she did in both other versions, but they do leave us hanging in this one, don't they? Dearest Kali, for dearest you will always be -- your posts are most welcome and eagerly received, even if you are fixated on that JN fellow! My point was that we shall never convince one another to change our point of view on who best portrays our most wonderful Mr. Knightley, but this in no way inhibits discussion, as Cass and I have discovered in chat. It places no limits whatsoever on general Knightley drooling! (Even if MS is infinitely superior!) ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 232 of 239: Donna (Donna) * Wed, Mar 19, 1997 (12:36) * 7 lines What new Mark Strong item can we discuss now? Did you notice that he has eyes when he is kissing Emma? Why do guys get these long eyelashes? I wonder if he had to use any eye make-up. Does anyone know? I doubt it very much. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 233 of 239: Donna (Donna) * Wed, Mar 19, 1997 (12:37) * 1 lines DTBT- Did you notice his eyes when kissing Emma? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 234 of 239: Kim (kimmer) * Wed, Mar 19, 1997 (17:17) * 1 lines LOL Donna. I wondered what you meant about him "having" eyes. I must admit I have not really noticed them while he is kissing. I will watch again to see. I have noticed his eyes in other scenes. They are beautiful, are they not? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 235 of 239: kathleen (elder) * Wed, Mar 19, 1997 (18:42) * 1 lines Mark Strong's eyes are quite "to lose oneself in" I'd say. And his eyebrows are impressive as well -- I like the way they frame his eyes when KB/Emma tells him not to speak. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 236 of 239: Kim (kimmer) * Wed, Mar 19, 1997 (19:23) * 3 lines I agree Kathleen. I love his eyes and his voice. I cannot tell about his body though. He is always covered up too much. However, I am sure it is as fine as the rest of him. As for his hair, it sometimes looks quite flat in some scenes and "puffier" in others. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 237 of 239: kathleen (elder) * Wed, Mar 19, 1997 (19:30) * 5 lines Yes, Kim, the "hair" is occasionally a problem. What with the different takes, and editing of the film, you get different looks to the hair -- it even seems to be darker in some scenes and more reddish/brown in others. (Or do you suppose they had more than one hairpiece for him?) Have we discussed his hands, yet? You can see them in the anagram scene, and they seem very nice. Obsessions can be fun, especially when they're shared! ;-p ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 238 of 239: Kim (kimmer) * Wed, Mar 19, 1997 (19:48) * 5 lines Kathleen, I noticed his nice hands in the dream of Emma's in which he is placing the ring on Jane's finger. Was he really wearing a hairpiece? I thought he might have just grown it long for Emma. I know he does not have much to speak of. I am happy to know there are other Mark Strong obsessed pe ople out there. At first I thought I was the only one, so I kept my mouth shut However after finding this thread I am able to let it all hang out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 206 of 237 [austen]: Emma 3 (from Mar. 1) Response 239 of 239: kathleen (elder) * Wed, Mar 19, 1997 (20:02) * 3 lines Kim -- thank you for reminding me of the Jane/wedding fantasy. I knew there was another scene showing his hands, but I couldn't remember where. Re: the hair. The pictures of MS show too much of a receding hairline for him to be able to grow. Also, in the video interview with him at the A&E site (http://www.aetv.com/scenes/emma/emma3.html#strong) the interviewer starts with a comment about the hair. (My computer couldn't play the video very well, and the sound was a bit fuzzy, but it was nice to hear that voice.)

Oh, Amy, this is not badly done! Indeed -- I have been wondering if I should request such a topic. But what will we do for pictures -- The Making of Emma book has some very nice shots, but I have no scanner. (I would gladly loan my book to someone who could help us out here.)

ok, I'll fess up. I have tried to be adult about this receding hairline(!) thing, but the man needs to keep the hat on. He looks GREAT with the hat on, but I gotta' have the hat on. (I'd just close my eyes if the situation arose where he would have to take it off)

The Fever Pitch photos on THAT OTHER TOPIC show him off to advantage

yep, that's where my shallowness first hit me full in the face

Somebody read my mind -- I was too hesitant to ask for a drool thread for "my" Mr. Knightley. Those eyes, those eyes, those eyes! And his hands are very nice, too. (Actually, one of the first things I check out. I am very partial to nice hands on men.) Cindy, the receding hairline in Emma doesn't bother me in the least, although he is excessively cute in the hats. But the totally bald look in Fever Pitch -- I really don't know about this. I'm going to have to see it and judge for myself if those eyes can make me forget to look north. His hair in Emma3 does look different from scene to scene. Kim, I particularly like MS's body when it is silhouetted at Hartfield in his very first scene. Very sexy and mysterious. And Kim, may I also say that it is very nice to find another obsessive!!! I shall be first to post a picture, although ones of MS are maddeningly hard to find: Also on this site, MS says: "It would be lovely if women found something in Knightly to fall in love with although there's nothing flashy about him and he's got none of Darcy's arrogance. In a series people can live with you and lose with you, but a two-hour film is a story in itself. What I find interesting about him is that there is a lot more to him that the headmaster figure I thought he was when I read the book for "A" level at school." We already knew that, Mark, but you made it very clear for us!

In the video interview at A&E Behind the Scenes site, he is asked to compare Knightley to Darcy. He goes on to mention the other similarly strong Austen heroes: Wentworth & Brandon. (Actually, he first says Willoughby, but he later corrects that to Brandon -- that got my respect, even before I saw him in the movie.) Maybe my age is showing, but I don't mind his bald look. His eyes are gorgeous regardless, and his voice is beautiful. I quite like his nose and chin (well defined lines) as well.

I was flipping channels last night and stopped (on TV Ontario) when I saw MS in a BBC drama called Our Friends in the North. I caught it at the end and was wondering if anyone had any information on this series.

Lisa, did he or did he not have hair in that one? I do not particularly mind the bald look, although I prefer him with hair.

In need of some pictures : Emma this one is not doing him justice at all :

Fever Pitch

Review of M. Strong as Biff in Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman : http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/deathofsalesman-nat96.html

Lisa: I saw MS in a BBC drama called Our Friends in the North There is an article at http://www.petford.demon.co.uk/kaleidos/ivmar96.htm about British tv programs which contains a review of Our Friends in the North. Johanne -- thank you for the pictures and the review of Death of a Salesman. I would have liked to have seen that production!

You know, I can't even bear to think about Death of a Salesman, ususally. It is so distrubing to me. Same with some of O'Neill's, Chekov's and Ibsen's stuff, though I do appreciate it so. Why can't we have screenwriters like them? Or would we if the Hollywood system encouraged it or even just let it happen. Some of the comments in the media about big studios sound like they are finally going to hit home now with this year's best picture nominees. It will be interesting to see if the Industry Establishment is willing to change. Anybody like The Player?

Amy--I did like The Player, although I saw it in a theatre while in Paris--a bit disconcerting for a comedy, as the audience does not always laugh when you think they should. I loved the comment it was making on the Hollywood system and lifestyle. BTW, is there any planned discussion of the Oscars this Monday? Since this is MS drool, I will not be remiss. I confess the first time I watched Emma3, I did not really like him at all, but I did like his voice. It took me about three more viewings before I began to appreciate the many subtleties he added to the role. As others have mentioned, I just melt when his voice falters during emotional moments, especially after Box Hill and during the proposal. I would love to see him in some other films. Does anyone know when the North American release date of Fever Pitch will be? Also, does anyone know if MS has done any live Shakespeare?

We hadn't talked about an Oscar talk, but that is a good idea. It might also be fun to watch together in the drawing room.

Kim, I only caught a glimpse of him but from what I saw he had hair.

Barbara: Also, does anyone know if MS has done any live Shakespeare? Can't answer directly, but the cast biography (from The Making of Emma)says: he has worked for the RSC, the National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.

I really appreciate these links to info on MS. I have done search after search after search for him and generally turn up nothing. Please keep them coming! Barbara, MS's performance had to grow on me, too, but I like it more all the time. I really think he caught the flavor for me, and I can't wait to see him in Fever Pitch. The way his emotions get the better of him is so touching! Kathleen, he does have a classically handsome face, with the nose and chin so defined. It really shows in that Fever Pitch picture of him, since there's no hair to distract! ;-)

His voice is so very nice -- I wonder how he'll sound with a different, more modern accent in Fever Pitch.

After seeing all the pictures of "the ultimate Mr. Knightly" in the Making of Emma book, I am in full drooling mode! What a man! I hope Fever Pitch comes to theatres where I live.

If he worked for RSC, then he must have done some Shakespeare. I was wondering because that voice is just made for Shakespear. How I would love to o (sp?) in Twelfth Night or something similar! It would be fun to watch the Oscars together at Pemberley! We can try to get Cheryl and others in love with RF to keep control of themselves!

Kim -- aren't the MS/Knightley pics in The Making of Emma superb? Two of my personal faves are page 46 (no hat though) and page 23 (the leading men). I also like the picture of Emma and Jane becoming friends on page 75 (a scene which didn't make it into the final cut). Barbara -- thank you for your info regarding doing Shakespeare at RSC. I don't know enough about these various groups (although I should have figured out that acronym, I suppose). What is it about his voice that makes you think of him in Shakespeare?

FYI:I did put a topic in at the Movie Conference and the nominees are listed. We all know who we want to win,but the deal is who will win.

Kathleen, the picture on page 46 is wonderful! I alos like the page of the leading men. I made sure to check out the ones not wearing boots that you mentioned. The picture of Dominic Rowan in curlers is priceless. I love the look on his face.How about pages 20 and 120? Nice pictures including hats. Kathleen, it seems we share the same feelings about Emma 3 and MS, but I do not know very much about you. Would you mind telling me a little about yourself? You have probably already told this a million times before, but I have missed it along the way. I am a 35 year old married, children's librarian in Tennessee. And I looooooooooooooove Mark Strong and his portrayal of Mr. Knightly. Bet you didn't know that, did you?

Susan, how are we doing keeping this going? Amy has already had to put our messages in the archives twice.

Kim -- I think you and I can start talking code, at least until we figure out how to get the pictures onto the Spring. Ahh yess, 120, mmmmm.

Kim, you are all doing wonderfully, and I appreciate it more than I can say! I tried to find "The Making of Emma" locally, but no such luck...I plan to order it tonight here, though -- you guys are making me so envious! I want to know which pics you're talking about! I find myself wanting to watch at least part of Emma3 every night. It gets better every time!

Kathleen, how about158? Susan, you will love it! In addition to pictures, it has all kinds of interesting tidbits. I have forced myself not to watch any of it all week. I think I will treat myself this weekend.

I've ordered "The Making of Emma" from the IBS and it should be on its way by now. Hopefully I'll have it in another week. I also ordered "Fever Pitch, the Screenplay" but was later told that it hasn't been published yet - apparently I'll have to wait for an April publication date (presumably after the movie opens in England!)

Inko -- be sure to let us know about the Fever Pitch screenplay (cost, ISBN, and of course how many pictures of CF and/or MS). Kim -- #158 is very fine. (That BROWN thing again!) I loved the comment in the screenplay directions after the kiss, "to show the dynastic couple." #158 catches some of that. I must leave you now, for a few days, to visit friends. Please keep on talking, and I will catch up early Wednesday morning.

I must admit that I did not see anything very special in Mark Strong in Emma except hi eye.. BUT ....before you all trash me to death :).. I think I could grew rather fond of him in Fever Pitch, much improved there, actually, I find that I _like_ him bald! And regarding Fever Pitch.. DO read the real book, it's truely great!!

Is there NO ONE who can scan in some of these pictures for those of us who don't yet have "The Making of Emma?" I can't seem to find any pics of MS on the Net, other than those a few of you have posted and some little tiny ones. HELP me, please, ladies, and put me out of my misery! I"ll be eternally grateful! Kathleen, I hope you have a wonderful trip. Kim, I'll take up the slack while she's gone!

Susan, I do not have a scanner, so I cannot put up any of the wonderful pictures of MS from the book. I must tell you, however, it will be well worth the wait.He is absolutely gorgeous, especially in those Kathllen and I have mentioned. I am glad you will take up the slack for Kathleen. We must have multiple messages for her to read when she gets back, Kathleen, have a wonderful trip!

Kim, I'm going to watch it again today (I have shown admirable restraint all week long, and I think I deserve it!), so will have more to say later. I'm so glad to find someone else as enthralled as I am (Nicole seems to have potential)! And did you see we already rival in number of posts some of the other drool threads that have been here a lot longer? MS=Mighty Superior; Mister Sexy -- your turn!

Susan - How about MS = Male Succulence? What would CF stand for?

]Susan - How about MS = Male Succulence? Oh, Linda, I like it very well INDEED! Goodly done, Goodly done!! CF I'll have to think about, but I find the assignment very much to my liking! Maybe you should ask this on the CF drool?

CF = Creating fervor; fever; frenzy; take your pick!!

I like your "CF = ...." Inko. I had a few of my own but thought I'd better not mention them since they lean ever so slightly to the naughty side.

Oh Linda, go ahead -- this is Drool after all - no censorship here!!!;-)

MS=Manly Stride ,Major Sexy ,Masculine Superiority, My Sweetie. How is that Susan? I could probably go on, but I must control myself. The weather was so wonderful today, I had to get out in it, so I have not had a dose of Mark today.Will I watch it tomorrow? Perhaps. I have noticed that our postings are growing by leaps and bounds." Goodly done"-I love it!

Inko - Actually, what I had in mind for CF would probably get me kicked off the internet if I posted it here. HA! Susan - MS = Male sensuality, masterful seduction, marvelous specimen, melancholy soul, metaphysical sorcerer!!!

YUCK!!!!! You guys are way gone...(To quote Phoebe from Friends , "Hello Kettle? This is Pot! You're black!") ;) --- BTW, if you guys find good Emma3 pics that I don't have at my site, pleeze let me know!

I LOVE all the MS suggestions -- you guys are great! I'm intrigued, Linda -- e-mail me if you really can't restrain yourself and feel that you MUST share! Actually, just e-mail me anyway! Kim, you're doing wonderfully -- your MS ='s are some of the best. I watched my favorite parts tonight, but will post those comments on the Emma3 thread (even if they are mostly about MS!). Kali, I think we must like being "way gone!" Will forward any pics I find. Your Emma site is so cool!

Kali, I know I am way gone,but I cannot help myself. He is Mucho Sexy! I expect similar behavior from you when Emma 2 comes out on video and you can have JN (unfortunately, not literally) whenever you want.. Strong. What an appropriate name!!

Susan - I tried e-mailing you earlier today and my message was returned to me. (I told you they would kick me off the internet if I posted what I was really thinking. HA!) Anyway, I'm not sure why the message did not go through. Is your e-mail address correctly entered for this conference? Would love to talk to you - Why don't you try e-mailing me & see what happens.

Done, Linda. Let me know here if it doesn't work again. I'm starting to wonder, because I've never had any problem before, but I'm not getting my Austen-L digests, either (not since Thursday). I hope that whatever it is is temporary.

]We can try to get Cheryl and others in love with RF to keep control of themselves! _____ Barbara, I just saw this -- dare I hope that I am not the only one who doesn't care for RF?

If RF is Ralph Fiennes, I do not care for him either. Mark Srong is much better in drool-potential.

Oh Puh-leeze!!! ;-p

I cannot believe myself sometimes. All during the previews for Emma 3 and the first time I saw it, I kept thinking that they could have at least tried to get a more attractive man to play Mr. Knightly. Bernie told me that Mark Strong would grow on me, and boy was she right! Has anyone else noticed how his hair touches the back of his collars? Just made for fingers to run through it.

Me want photo, me want photo...

I'm not crazy about Ralph Fiennes, but I do think he is a good actor. I didn't mean any offense by that previous comment Cheryl, only that I'm sure quite a few of you will be tuning in to the oscars just to watch him! Trivia question for Emma3 junkies--how many times in the movie does MS take a drink of something to hide his facial expression, prevent himself from saying something, etc. I don't know the answer either, but I thought you might all like to have permission to watch it again just to find out!

Great suggestion, Barbara. Anything to watch again. Also, how about how many times he tugs at his sleeves or coats?

Thanks you, Sus... --- Oh, and Kim, Susan, et al., I was joking about the "Way gone" thing...if I had been serious, I would have made myself a hypocrite (JEREMY FOREVER!!!)! ;) --- As far as RF, he has a very interesting build...smallish on the top, with kind of a wide pelvis/butt complex. Generally, I think he plays his roles with too posey an air, but somehow he shed it long enough to make his Heathcliffe the raw, wild, emotional beast which vindicates the existence of the whole sorry book. I guess this is my cue to head over to the RF topic...

Susan - I got your e-mail and have sent a reply. It should reach you this time. Address was inaccurate as posted on the conference. Let me know if it doesn't reach you - have much to "chat" about with you!

Kali - Wuthering Heights a "sorry" book? Why so?

Mark Strong is much better in drool-potential. I cannot believe myself sometimes. All during the previews for Emma 3 and the first time I saw it, I kept thinking that they could have at least tried to get a more attractive man to play Mr. Knightly. Bernie told me that Mark Strong would grow on me, and boy was she right! Has anyone else noticed how his hair touches the back of his collars? Just made for fingers to run through it. Also, how about how many times he tugs at his sleeves or coats? Kim, you dearest, most darling girl -- I love ya! You are reading my mind. ]how many times in the movie does MS take a drink of something to hide his facial expression, prevent himself from saying something, etc. Also, how about how many times he tugs at his sleeves or coats? Enough to enthrall us all... Kali, you're welcome, dearest! I am honestly perplexed that I can be so mesmerized by MS's performance, and I had no desire to see Emma2 a second time. What did I miss? Linda, got your e-mail and sent my own -- am awaiting your reply...

]Enough to enthrall us all... Indeed, LOL

Perplexed? My situation exactly...I don't understand...Jeremy is so...so NOT Mark Strong! How could you resist? ;) DOn't get me wrong...Mark fits, but I do so wish he had more hair! Perhaps the rub lies in the fact that I am very young. Those who are over a certain age have trouble seeing Jeremy's Knightley from Emma's perspective because he's too young or too close to them in age...but remember, Jeremy isn't so far from Knightley's 37, and Mr. Knightley is supposed to be youthful-looking... --- As for Wuthering Heights, I couldn't understand the characters...their actions and avowed feelings didn't seem to fit with the tame character images Emily Bronte drew in my head. Ralph and Juliette brought their emotions to life for me...gave them a passion and ferocity I'd never imagined. That film greatly strengthened my appreciation of the story.

Kali, why is Knightley supposed to be youthful-looking? Beacuse of his upright and firm figure that Emma notices at the dance (from the novel)? Does that imply youthful looking or just not pot-bellied yet? "Those who are over a certain age have trouble seeing Jeremy's Knightley from Emma's perspective" .. you are about Emma's age and I'm possibly half-way between yours and Knightley's age, (so unless you consider me to be over that 'age'), I cannot agree that JN only looks youthful because I'm closer in age to him than you are. He does look boyishly youthful in Emma, stop. In Fatal Inversion he plays a younger age (right?) and looks the part. Now MS looks more the respectable age that Mr Knightley might e. Perhaps because of his hat or his brown outfits or his 'hair'. or the combination of all of those. Is this going anywhere?

I did not find JN too youthful for Mr. Knightly. I just think that Mark Strong is more attractive. Susan, if you and I start to get too carried awy in our praises of MS, I will gladly give you my e-mail so you can write me anytime the mood strikes you.

Thank you, Kim. Serena: First of all, the age factor in determining appreciation for JN is something that has been discussed here at the Spring over and over, long before you started posting here...it is a theory that Amy and several other women in middle age have brought up for discussion - so don't yell at me for it, even though I happen to agree with it in general...it seems to fit in most cases in which people don't like Jeremy's Knightley. Second: "...so young as he looked!" and "...excepting her own partner, there was not one among the whole row of young men who could be compared with him." does not necessarily mean "youthful," but it means youthful enough for an actor who looks over thirty to play a man who is 37. The point is that he doesn't look his age. THird: Fatal Inversion was filmed eight years ago. This means that he was salvagable for a role as a twenty-year-old (don't forget the wonders of hair, makeup, and wardrobe in film...) then, but may not be now... Cass is right...perhaps you should lighten up, Serena. I'll try to do the same. Kim, Susan, everyone, shut me up if I stray off-topic again...

Kim and Linda -- please e-mail me! I can't reach either one of you and I'm having drool withdrawals!

Sorry -- I just clicked on my name and it won't give the right address. It's susan@kyeng.com

You can change your email address Susan.

I was unable to retrieve some old Pond posts that Susan had requested. I thought this might help jump start this topic:

Thanks so much, Myretta! I think it was Inko who posted some info about an interview with MS about the time Emma came out, which talked about him living in Germany. Anyone else have this scuttlebutt, or any other?

Hi, ladies, I made it through registration! Myretta, thank you so very much for reviving this topic. I haven't been here last time and I am still keen on discussing all things MS! Susan, what exactly is a scuttlebutt?

Bettina, scuttlebutt is about the same as gossip, like maybe the inside scoop. :-) We're all good at this here! What shall we discuss first? Since Emma3 has been well discussed, how about Captives? I liked this role because it was such an unusual one for MS. Seeing him as a punk heavy (and mean to boot) just seemed so out of character, but an interesting departure from Mr. Knightley. Maybe he's like CF, and likes doing odd roles. Does anyone know what he's doing next?

Mark Strong Info Page now out! "She really did it!" Steve and Paul proudly announce that you can now visit the Mark Strong Info Page in the close neighbourhood of my German Jane Austen page. If you feel that there are some things missing on this page - that's right, I'm still working on it. If you want to give me another piece of info, please e-mail me, I will be delighted! Susan, If he was like CF, liking odd roles, he should have had playes Phil (Tim Roth's part) or Rachel, the dentist. I thought they looked quite insane against Kenny the brute. This part and the very short time in which he made sure that you'd better not fuck with reminded me of something that was written about Sean Connery: He does not have to be mean every time. It's quite alright because we already know he can be mean any time. I would love to see MS in a role like the Sherrif of Nottingham. Wouldn't you, too?

Please forgive me for posting links that do not work. This one should be okay: Mark Strong Info Page

Susan & Bettina -- hi, it's nice to see this topic (re)started! Bettina -- I can't seem to get to the Mark Strong Info Page, but I shall keep trying! Susan and I have felt MS-deprived for some time now. When I was in London at the beginning of August, the closest I got to an MS-sighting was an advertisement in the Underground (Tottenham Court station, as I recall). It was a scene from Fever Pitch, I imagine, showing MS disgusted with the team's performance. CF was in the picture, too, but only the top of his head.