Oh man, new head-canon

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

So I finally saw It, the iconic Clara Bow movie. If you're not familiar with it, it's about a working-class girl falling in love with a wealthy young man, Cyrus, who runs the department store where she works.

Anyway, pretty early in the movie, this guy shows up. He's Cyrus' best friend, Monty -- an elegantly dressed, incredibly goofy but good-hearted British chap. We're told pretty early on that he doesn't work, although he does take an amiable interest in his friend's job. He's tall, slim and sharply dressed, but sports a highly inadvisable mustache. He ineptly woos girls who are totally unsuitable for him (including Betty, the "it" girl herself).

At one point, wacky hijinks lead Monty and Cyrus to believe that Betty is a *gasp* single mother. Cyrus is really a dick about it, but Monty -- although shocked and distraught at first -- is quick to "forgive" her and continue their friendship. And ultimately, even though he has a hard-core crush on Betty, he helps bring her and Cyrus together (in his bumbling way) when he realizes how much Betty loves Cyrus.

It's . . . it's Bertie, in his pre-Jeeves days! He's hanging around in New York trying to help his friends out of romantic scrapes and making bad decisions about facial hair and girls (he even shows an interest in Cyrus' Florence Craye-like jilted girlfriend at the end)! Even his dialogue is Bertie-esque ("You've got 'It', old fruit!").

Here's a better picture of the actor, William Austin. Again with the terrible mustache, although it looked worse in the movie. XD Note the striking blue eyes.

Comments

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

Wow, there can be worse mustaches? I've been keen to see this film for a while but I had forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me!

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

There can. It's not nearly as well-groomed in the movie. *shudders*

[furius.livejournal.com]

As Clara Bow is being mentioned as one of Bertie's movie star crushes (at least, there was a favorable note) in the books (that's the only reason i know her name) I really like this headcanon.

Also, wow, now I know what Jeeves is so against a mustache if it looks like that!

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Ah, I didn't remember that she was mentioned in the books, but I'm not surprised! And yeah, the 'stache is terrible.

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

I am having some trouble judging whether this is a "dapper" or "debonair" mustache (http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/history/).

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

Freestyle! Haha!

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Bahaha! Oh, dear. Jeeves would find all of this very upsetting.

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Thankfully he heads Bertie off at the pass well before any of this horror would be an option.

If you look below the scary pictures, there is a spot where you can in fact order a mustache... of a much less scary variety.

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

I actually did order a mustache once, for a Halloween costume several years ago! I think it's this very one (http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Costume-Accessories-Handlebar-Moustache/dp/B004LY750Y/ref=pd_sbs_a_2), but in brown. I still have it sitting in a drawer somewhere. Never know when it might come in handy!

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

I am sure it looked quite spiffing.... and will do again whenever you have need of it. ; )

[ironicbees.livejournal.com]

I love Clara Bow, and It. ♥

Never thought of that guy before as a possible Bertie. That photo does fit him pretty well, though. But if that's what Bertie looks like in a mustache, then no wonder Jeeves wanted him to shave it off!

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think he'd be fairly dapper without the mustache and without the awful makeup that he wears in the movie. In the photo he's pretty adorable, if you just mentally Photoshop the facial hair away!

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

I'm very amused by this. I'll have to check out the movie. :D

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

It's definitely worth a watch! It also features a banjolele, for bonus Wodehouse points.

[umpteenth-gail.livejournal.com]

Watch out ladies, Movember is coming! Last year, significant numbers of men in our office lost their good looks for a good cause. On the last day, out came the fake moustaches that we women used to surprise them. Much hilarity and photography followed. One colleague later put her orange moustache on the picture of her young son, and it's still there!

I suppose when Movember comes around, some of you may feel impelled to write fan fiction. :-)

[margi-lynn.livejournal.com]

Now I have to rewatch this movie with Bertie in mind. Clara Bow is one of my movie star crushes; no hardship here!