I’m so happy to host the wonderful Debra Mullins today on the blog as part of the celebration of Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord! The first book in Debra’s Brides of Nevarton Chase series, Tempting a Proper Lady, is out now, and the next, Too Wicked to Love, is out in June!
I’m particularly excited because she is going to talk about one of my favorite topics–Hollywood Hotties…and because obviously Debra and I are kindred spirits…as her list includes several of my go-to dreamboats!
This is such a fun post…I’m so happy to share it with you!
Ten Decades of Hollywood Heroes
By Debra Mullins
I was always compelled to write, but what I chose to write—romance novels—was directly influenced by the movies I watched growing up. The hero always got to me, how he managed to do his duty while still falling head over heels for the heroine. So here is my list of Hollywood heroes over the past ten decades. Now, this isn’t the list, just my list, so feel free to add your own suggestions as we go!
Since we’re starting off in the twenties, I think this quote from Rudolph Valentino sums up how women feel not only about romantic leads on the silver screen, but also about heroes in romance novels:
“Women are not in love with me but with the picture of me on the screen. I am merely the canvas on which women paint their dreams.” –Rudolph Valentino
1920-1930 – Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolph Valentino. Dashing Douglas Fairbanks did all my favorite films: Robin Hood, The Thief of Baghdad and The Mark of Zorro. To this day I love heroes with secret identities. Rudolph Valentino, dubbed the original Latin Lover, made a splash in movies like The Sheik and Son of the Sheik. His death at age 31 spurred one of the first female mass hysterias for a pop icon.
1930-1940 –Errol Flynn. Errol Flynn stole my heart with swashbuckling romance in movies like The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Adventures of Don Juan and Captain Blood.
1940-1950 – Tyrone Power. Tyrone Power continued the swashbuckling tradition in movies like The Mark of Zorro and The Black Swan. (You can blame him and Errol Flynn for my first book, Once A Mistress.)
1950-1960 – John Wayne. My favorite movie of all time is The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, filmed in Ireland. What a wonderful romance against a stunning backdrop!
1960-1970 – Sir Sean Connery. From 007 to Highlander to The Rock to Entrapment, Sean has got “it”—that elusive charisma that keeps women coming back for more. He could film a denture commercial with that accent and have women running to the store to buy some.
1970-1980 –Frank Langella and Christopher Reeve. Another actor who did a terrific job as the lead role in the 1974 remake of The Mark of Zorro is Frank Langella, just before he kicked off the vampire craze a couple of decades early with his sensuous performance in 1979’s Dracula. And Christopher Reeve as Superman and then later in Somewhere In Time …wow, those eyes.
1980-1990 – Harrison Ford, Cary Elwes and Patrick Swayze. Harrison Ford stole my heart in 1977 as Han Solo, but the bulk of his work falls into the 1980’s as he switched off between Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Cary Elwes charmed as Wesley in The Princess Bride. I loved the way he loved Buttercup and how he would allow nothing, not even death, keep them apart. And Patrick Swayze? Again, I love an alpha male who can dance. Dirty Dancing, Road House and Ghost: Patrick had it all.
1990-2000 – Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp. I love the way Antonio Banderas moves in Desperado, and I’m a sucker for any man who can pull off Zorro with flair. And that accent—delicious. (I’m such a sucker for Latin men.) And I’ve been a fan of Johnny Depp since he first appeared in the TV series 21 Jump Street. Loved him in the camp classic Cry-Baby and of course, as the Irish rogue Roux in Chocolat. He also makes a heck of a pirate!
2000-2010 – Hugh Jackman and Jim Caviezel. Hugh Jackman won me over as Wolverine in the X-Men movies, and his poster on my wall inspired a few of my darker heroes. (I also had the opportunity to see him on Broadway in The Boy From Oz. Again—an alpha male who can dance and sing!) Jim Caviezel stole my breath as Edmond Dantes in the remake of The Count of Monte Cristo, also inspiring for an hero or two.
2010 forward – Robert Downey, Jr. Robert Downey, Jr. makes be believe in heroes, not only because of his terrific work in Ironman and Ironman 2 but also because of his triumphs in his personal battles. Loved him in Sherlock Holmes as well, and I can’t wait for the sequel!
That’s my list. Tell me, who’s on yours?
I love this list! I’m also a sucker for Tyrone Power, Sean Connery, Antonio Banderas and RDJ…but I was sad to see that my Marlon Brando didn’t make the list, Debra! What about you, readers?
Debra has generously offered a signed copy of her most recent release, Tempting A Proper Lady! Tell us who is on your list of Hollywood Heroes (from any decade) for a chance to win on Monday! **Don’t forget to share your email address with us so we can reach you if you win!
Stay tuned all this month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don’t forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!
November 10th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Great post, Debra! Most of mine are on your list already, especially from the 80s on. I can't *not* add Gerard Butler on that. An alpha who can dance, like Mr. Swayze? Yum yum yum.
And I'm with Sarah about Marlon Brando. I'd only seen him as the older, um…thicker, self when I was younger, but then I watched Guys and Dolls. Oh. My. Word.
Actually, if I'm going to look at 40s-50s musicals, I'd like to add the singers/dancers that stole my young heart–Frank, Dean, and Gene (Kelly)–to that list. And my personal favorite from that group isn't a traditional sexy-hot hero type: Danny Kaye. He may not be the best looking guy, but he was hysterical, and there's nothing better than a man who can make you laugh. (And he danced and sang, so triple threat!)
November 10th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
I always loved Cary Grant and David Niven (those suave, sophisticated men). Then of course I have to agree with Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, and Robert Downey Jr. I'd also add Gerard Butler, Clive Owen and Brad Pitt.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
November 10th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
A lot of mine were already listed but I'd add Andy Garcia, Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan in his James Bond glory.
seriousreader at live dot com
November 10th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Always liked Yul Brynner! Then came Pierce Brosnan, Harrison Ford, Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman, and Kiefer Sutherland!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
November 10th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
All great choices, ladies! I was going to add Gene Kelly (A Pirate!) and Gerard Butler, but my list was getting WAY long!
November 10th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I've always thought Alan Ladd was very handsome. Also on my list are Stewart Granger, Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Eric Bana and Ryan Reynolds.
janie1215 AT excite DOT com
November 10th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Great choices. I totally agree with Patrick Swayze. He was my first celebrity crush. So sexy in Dirty Dancing! For my old hollywood crush I always liked Troy Donahue and James Darren. Loved him in the Gidget movies. As for my current celeb crushes I like Ryan Reynolds. He's just so dreamy. Plus, he is really funny. I have had a crush on him since he was on Nickelodeon back in the late 80's.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
What a great post! I really love that, for 100 years, there has always been a leading man to swoon over. Debra made some great picks. I'd add only one more, Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights. He's the best dark brooding hero ever! I'm surprised that no one said Clark Gable, though he doesn't do it for me, he was quite the hunk in It Happened One Night. My mother tells me that when he took off his shirt, in that movie and exposed his bare chest, women around the country gasped and then stopped buying them for their husbands. Now that's pull.
November 11th, 2010 at 1:54 am
Oh, I meant to include Pierce Brosnan! I've always loved him, ever since his Remington Steele days :)
November 11th, 2010 at 4:07 am
Paul Newman. His blue eyes still made me melt every time I saw a picture of them – even when he was in his 70's!
lvsgund at gmail dot com
November 11th, 2010 at 7:49 am
older era: Rock Hudson… i love the movie pillow talk
newer era: Ralph Fiennes
jenmel89(at)yahoo(dot)com
November 11th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Great post..I loved Gregory Pack especially in To Kill A Mockingbird.And in no particular order :
Cary Grant
Antonio Banderas
John Garfield
Gene Kelly
Gary Cooper (so gentle)
Errol Flynn and Sean Connery
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
November 11th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
I'm a big Ryan Reynolds fan, too. I adored Definitely Maybe, which was recommended to me by, of all people, my teenage son, who tends to like Sons of Anarchy more than romantic comedies. But Reynolds had me from the first moment in that one!
November 11th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
This got my imagination going.
One to add, Howard Keel. My, my, that man could sing….
November 11th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Irene, believe it or not, I love Howard Keel! Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Kiss Me, Kate have permanent places on my DVD shelf! Too darned hot…
November 11th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
If I could just have Johnny Depp on alternate days… when I wasn't with John Cleese… that would be heaven.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
When I was younger, I had huge crushes on Kevin Costner and Richard Gere. Now Gerard Butler, Johnny Depp, and Robert Downey, Jr. are my favorite Hollywood heroes.
beamer339 AT hotmail DOT com
November 11th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
great post these guys are hot especially Robert Downey Jr. Here are ten of mine!
1. Mel Gibson (pre-crazy)
2. Richard Gere
3. Paul Newman
4. Robert Redford
5. Antonia Bandarass
6. Johnny Depp
7. Brad Pitt (pre-Angelina) YUCK!
8. Gerard Butler
9. Clive Owen
10. Hugh Jackman
Bonus hotties:
George Clooney, Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy), and Will Smith! (He's funny which makes him cute)
evjochum@aol.com
November 11th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
I do love George Clooney in the Ocean's Eleven series, but my favorite of his movies was Out of Sight with JLo. That scene in the car trunk…anyone got some ice?
November 11th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Deb, you seemed to like everybody who played Zoro!
Remind you of anybody? Maybe the hero from the book you have out next year? LOL!!!
susan meier
November 12th, 2010 at 12:42 am
Gee, Susan, you think I have a thing for men dress-ed all in black and wearing a mask (yes that was my George Hamilton imitation ). I loved Tyrone Power as Zorro, and then Frank Langella did the same script with Ricardo Montalban as the evil Captain Esteban. :) Can't go wrong either way.
November 12th, 2010 at 1:08 am
What, no Orlando Bloom? His Legolas was great! Also, How about Taylor Lautner? I think he may be even better as he gets older. Of course, they don't sing and dance like Hugh Jackman, but Taylor at least was a martial arts champ as a boy.
I like a young Robert Downey Jr., like in "Tuff Turf".
ironss[at]gmail.com
November 12th, 2010 at 4:19 am
I just realized I didn't leave my email. Sorry.
iqb99@yahoo.com
November 12th, 2010 at 7:01 am
You know, I did think of Legolas, and I am a Taylor Lautner fan. Now if I only weren't old enough to be Taylor's mother… :)
November 13th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Deb,
You've reminded me of so many of my old loves eg Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, Ty Hardin,Tony Curtis etc etc…
But as for today's sexy men- you forgot Keanu Reeves and his bedroom eyes,
Suzi
suzi@suzilove.com
November 14th, 2010 at 2:07 am
I had a few on the list as well, but you forgot a few of my favorites!
Cary Grant – for An Affair to Remember, Howard Keel – for his beautiful voice, Jack Lemmon – for his ability to make me laugh whether villai or hero, and Christian Bale – for being able to do a musical and be the Dark Knight. Love them all!
November 14th, 2010 at 2:08 am
Forgot my email as well! hkpepin@gmail.com
November 14th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I love the Brit guys, Like Clive Owen.
Great post! And all the best for your release!
drewsoltesz@gmial.com