By now, you’ve probably seen the trailer for A Little Chaos, the film about a landscaper at Versailles (played by Kate Winslet) hired by King Louis XIV (played by Alan Rickman). It’s due in theaters March 27, 2015, and the costume designer is Joan Bergin. But did you know that Alan Rickman not only stars, he wrote and directed this movie? Because he’s just that awesome. This is the second feature he’s written and directed, having also made a small Scottish film in 1997 called The Winter Guest starring Emma Thompson.
Of course, Mr. Awesome, I mean, Alan, Rickman can do no wrong to me. He has a vast and varied film and TV career that includes some particularly sexy roles in historical costume. Maybe not your typical down ‘n dirty hotness, but those smoldering eyes and that voice, omg, that voice! He could read the phonebook and make me melt. So here’s some historical Alan Rickman man-candy for this Monday.
Thérèse Raquin (1980)
He has a small role in this 19th-century BBC/Masterpiece Theater historical costume miniseries. It’s an inauspicious start, but don’t let this grainy image fool you. The Alan Rickman historical costume movies will heat up a lot when we get to the 1990s, oh yes, they will.
Portrait of the artist as a young man.
The Barchester Chronicles (1982)
I don’t remember if this BBC adaption of an Anthony Trollope novel ever crossed the pond to PBS. It’s another small role, but again Alan Rickman will get better parts in historical costume movies. This is like long, slow, extended foreplay. Makes it all that much better when he dives in.
Mid-Victorian primness cannot hold back the Rickman.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1985-87)
Not a screen version, but the Royal Shakespeare Company play and then the Broadway play. Rickman played the Vicomte de Valmont and earned a Tony Award nomination. It was a big breakout role, and just look at this…
You can lounge on my chaise any time.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
With a spoon, because it’ll hurt more! Alan Rickman’s Sheriff of Nottingham is freakin’ ah-may-zing! He’s a bad-ass. He’s OTT. He’s wearing all black, with leather and studs. He’s funny. He’s sexy. And you really want him to win over namby-pamby Kevin Costner and his troop of losers. I hear Kendra in the background whinging about the ‘stache looking porn-y, but shaddup, it works here. He’s hardcore. He’s gonna hurt you, and you’ll like it. And he’s cancelling Christmas!
You know you want it.
Badass.
Rarw.
Mesmer (1994)
As in “I am mesmerized by your super-hotness, Mr. Rickman.” Not exactly a prize-winning film, but hello nurse, it’s got Alan Rickman in a fluffy cravat in the 18th-century, so no complaints from me. Sadly, the movie doesn’t appear to be available for streaming online (legally), and the DVD is out of print now. Luckily, the Interwebs are full of yummy pix! Alan Rickman in historical costume, FTW.
This is not the last long, dramatic cloak you’ll see him in.
All of me, why not take all of me…
Melodramatic Rickman is melodramatic.
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
YES YES YES. All through the movie, I want to slap Marianne and say, “wake up, silly, there’s a fantastic man in love with you, get over that rake Willoughby, and stop ignoring Colonel Awesome Brandon!” OK, it’d be a much shorter story if she did that right away, and then we wouldn’t have Alan Rickman’s intense, but quiet, longing, which just makes you love him all the more. If you don’t adore him because of this movie alone, you must be made of ice.
Someone need saving?
He’s so shy!
*Swoon*
Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996)
An HBO film about everyone’s favorite mad monk. Alan Rickman won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie for his portrayal of Rasputin. We always knew the Russian monk was a horn-dog, and finally, someone plays him appropriately. And while Rickman has the required beard, it’s not the crazy ZZ Top thing that historical movies typically stick on Rasputin, so it looks more realistic, and you can still see some Rickman hotness going on.
Naughty, naughty monk!
Michael Collins (1996)
Alan Rickman plays Éamon de Valera, one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, with Michael Collins in this historical film. The movie rather unfairly blames de Valera for Collins’ death, but Rickman turns in a fine performance. Also, he looks really cute in these glasses, don’t you think?
Serious bizness!
Harry Potter series (2001-11)
These aren’t historical costume movies, but I have to include them because Alan Rickman as Severus Snape is one of the best things about Harry Potter. His performance is stellar, and Rickman looks divine. He’s a bitter ElderGoth, with a secretly good heart that’s only discovered that the very end. With his flowing black robes and all those tiny buttons, the raft of black hair over his tragically care-worn face, oh, Severus, you are a dark god!
My half-blood prince!
Buttons!
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
About this point in time, we’re starting to see Alan Rickman playing older roles. He’s always played a lot of villains (hawt, hawt villains), but now he’s being given parts as fathers and older husbands. Set in the 18th century, here Rickman is the father of the targeted girl. While the part isn’t meant to be sexy, Alan Rickman still looks fabulous in historical costume and he has quite a nice period wig.
Does somebody need a hug?
He even brought you a pony!
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Another bad guy, but in a great historical costume! Rickman plays Judge Turpin, who pretty much did everything to make Sweeney Todd’s life go to hell. Rickman and Johnny Depp sing “Pretty Woman” together. Omg, that man, he can do everything!
Being bad never looked so good.
I’d like a bite of that pie.
A Promise (2013)
An obscure little movie set on the eve of World War I in Germany, where Alan Rickman plays a husband who gets cheated on by his much younger wife. Poor Mr. Rickman, I’d never cheat on you! I don’t care that you’re older than me! OK, we’re both hooked up with other people, but y’know… (in reality, Alan Rickman has been with the same woman since 1965, his first girlfriend, Rima Horton, who’s been a Labour Party councilor and an economics lecturer; they’ve lived together since 1977, aren’t married, and don’t have kids; damn, he really is my perfect boyfriend, I mean, other than my actual husband sigh).
This young clerk is the worst hiring decision you’ll ever make.
A Little Chaos (2014)
Writer, director, Sun King. It’s Alan Rickman’s world, we only live in it.
Judging you.
I own everything!
What’s your favorite Alan Rickman historical costume movie? What do you think about his other roles?
Robin Hood and Sense and Sensibility are my favourites! That voice! Guh!
Alan Rickman: The real reason to watch “Robin Hood.”
Snape, Snape, Snape! Veritable voice candy
“Voice candy” YES.
I have no words for how much I love him <3
We can share!
Every time I listen to Tubular Bells II (Mike Oldfield) – whenever Rickman’s voiceover comes on telling what the new instrument is, we end it up saying “POTTER” when he’s done. works really well. try it.
“Mandolin…” “POTTER!”
“Electric Guitar…” “POTTER!”
“The venetion effect!” “Potter!”
Aahahaahahahahahahaha!!! Love this!!!
I don’t think Alan Rickman is as hot as the rest of humanity, apparently, but I DO like him as an actor and I DO love him in Robin Hood and Sense and Sensibility!
Yay, I won’t have to bite you!
Ah, you forgot “Quigley Down Under” – he plays a yummy bad guy.
True true!
Though it isn’t a costume drama, Truly Madly Deeply is one of his most delightful though his character is dead. Ghost has nothing on this.
1980s costume — Hans Gruber as faux-German terrorist in Die Hard! “…. and fa-ther of five”….
I had to come read this again, after the news this morning.
Yeah, me too :(
So did I…
I loved him in Sense and Sensibility! I recently watched A Little Chaos though, and it’s now a favorite for more recent works of his.
Too many giants leaving this world, its a poorer world.
What a shock to lose this giant of the entertainment world. Loved him as Colonel Brandon – no other Sense & Sensibility film/series is as good without him as Brandon.
BTW he and Rima did marry – in 2012 in a secret ceremony. Just them. My heart goes out to her.
So saddened by the news. Not just a fine actor but a superb human being too, judging by all that I have read about him.
Please consider Mr. Richman’s performance in “Dogma.” Not a costume piece, but not just any actor can rock a giant set of wings.
He was very well cast in Dogma, I agree!
Alan Rickman stole my heart in Sense and Sensibility. He was a singularly talented actor and, in my mind, an absolute gem of a man. Heaven’s gain is, in my opinion, our most painful loss and I have never grieved the death of an actor the way I grieve Alan Rickman. I feel honored to have lived to see his magic. May you walk with God, Alan. You fully deserve it.
My sentiments exactly! No truer words were ever spoken about Alan Rickman! May he rest in peace and continue perfecting his acting skills performing for God and a Heavenly audience….his ultimate theatre! I have never stopped thinking about nor praying for him since the day he died! May he rest in peace until I meet up with him again in the next world to come! Alan, I will ALWAYS love you and promise to never stop studying neither you nor your career daily!
Actually, Mr. Rickman married Ms. Horton in 2012.
Rickman was a distinctive, interesting, and arguably great actor, but I question some of his career decisions. It seems that he was in more than his share of terrible films. Granted, that was possibly because he wanted to take risks and avoid being pigeonholed, but his résumé is pretty spotty even in the early years, and the overall quality of movies he appeared in took a nosedive during the last five to six years or so. It’s kind of a shame. He always fit well in historical costume roles.
Love Alan Rickman, since Sense and Sensibility. I saw Robin Hood in theaters but I was so busy loathing Kevin Costner his charm was not immediately apparent to me. Later I realized that his Sheriff was a comic gem. He and Michael Wincott as Guy of Gisborne are the only reasons to watch that train wreck of a movie. Am I the only one who thinks Enya totally stole his Sheriff of Nottingham hair-do later in her career?
I loved him in Robin Hood. He was so deliciously evil. And my dad was constantly quoting him..
But it wasn’t until I watched Sense & Sensibility that I realized how incredibly attractive he was. Soooooo hawt!
He had me at Barcester…