Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 59

Jane - "Will you tell me how long you have loved him?"

Reply - "It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began.  But I believe I must date it from.........................."

<I don't remember reading about how you became a fan.>

A comment from another Colin Fan.  So I have added my moment.

I don't believe I've ever said. Nor that anyone has ever asked. To quote Elizabeth Bennet:
"It's been coming on so gradually, I hardly know, but I believe I must date it from...."

I first noticed him in Valmont. Not in the theater. My daughter and I saw it on TV late one night in 1991. She was only 13 at the time. OMG, I fell "in love" with that young actor and what is his name anyway? (Found out later how old he was when it was made, close to my age) I didn't have a computer then and couldn't find out much about him. I had seen the Hallmark version of The Secret Garden, but didn't connect the name as it had been a few years. I tried to find something out. Then when I saw Circle of Friends I told my daughter that's the guy from Valmont, she didn't agree with me. I did realize that the mustache in COF made him look somewhat different but he had his moments.

I pursued it. By that time I had a computer and did find out about him and tried to get what I could as far as movies were concerned. Then when P&P was getting ready to show here in the US I was ripe with anticipation at seeing this gorgeous wonderful actor again. He did not disappoint, I delved deeper into his life and career and my collection began. It was small but nice to have. I was financially unable to pursue some of the older more costly movies until the past 2 years. I am so glad to have them all. Even if the movie is bad, Colin shines through in each performance.

P&P - when I read as a teen I got my "vision" of Darcy in my brain. No one ever came close to matching how I saw him in my head until HE played the part. I always sympathized with Darcy and could see it from his point of view. Not as someone arrogant, but shy and uncomfortable. It freaked me out when I read Colin's take on his approach to playing Darcy as that was how I'd always seen it.

COF, TEP, SIL - you notice that in big Hollywood stuff they have him gain weight so he doesn't look a sympathetic figure or that you have no problem rooting for the "other" guy to get the girl? I read an article that said they did that in TEP or it wouldn't be believable for her to have left him for Ralph Fiennes. After all he had just finished P&P and looked so damned good.
 

In any case, it crept up on me and by the time P&P came out I couldn't wait for it to be shown. I had no idea how wonderful he would be in it and I couldn't wait to see him in more. I started collecting as things allowed. I got alot after my promotion and my pay got to a comfortable point of having the spare change to do so.

The obsession began and continues to grow.  It has not waned, even when he got married (sigh). But that he is happy, settled and down to earth makes him all the more appealing (website host)

The quintessential Colinization moment for me was "The Look" scene, Episode 5, P&P....it was as if he was looking right at me...at least in my mind. I was a goner after that!!

I was a CF "virgin" until I saw BJD on video no less. I hadn't even heard anything about it, had seen absolutely nothing of his earlier projects and had (alas) completely missed the P&P hype.

But, as soon as I saw the "So it would seem" scene where he leans in for his kiss, I was a goner. The scene in the doorway of BJ's apartment and the final kiss in the snow were just icing on the cake. (v.b. sigh)

Definitely the "Oh yes, they fuckin' do"-scene!
First I saw it of course in German (DVD) and the last scene was so fascinating that I had to watch it in English again. It was like an unexpected bomb.
Then I watched it once more in English and the addiction went on. The "making of" revealed me the relation with P&P and just a few days later I got the P&P-DVD. In one night I watched all episodes. That was last summer. And within a few months I got almost every film of Colin in my shelf.
The last time were I showed such unbelievable behavior was when I was 13 and collected everything about the Beatles. Now I'm almost 40. Well, I guess some people look at my as if I am a silly teenager - but I don't mind.

My magic moment came right before the "Yes they fucking do." It's when he whips out the new diary. I thought that was the sweetest gesture ever. Then the kiss sealed my obsession.

I'm not quite sure when my magic moment was. Maybe it was the very first time I saw him, in BJD at the Turkey Curry dinner, when he turns around. I remember thinking " WOW Ding Dong indeed!" But I probably got even more hooked at the final kiss scene. The man has a beautiful profile!!!

I can pinpoint the exact, precise moment -- "I like you very much...just as you are" in BJD. He hooked me at the beginning of that little speech and by the time he turned around to dash up the stairs (looking lovely while doing so, I might add) I was hopelessly lost. Of course, I immediately rushed out and rented P&P, which just sealed the deal. And although I didn't think it was possible, I think I fell even a little bit more in love after WAGW.

My obsession began near the beginning of P & P.  It is when you know he is falling for Lizzie and at this point he is fighting it.  As ODB can convey so much with his eyes and expressions.  The scene: Lucas Lodge as he watches Lizzie the whole night, (watch in the backgrounds of the various scenes) then she turned down his invitation to dance, followed by the scenes at Netherfield (delectable.) Although I sat up and took notice immediately when he first appeared in the movie at the first assembly.  I thought, "whoa, where did they get him from, he's gorgeous". I waited with fervent anticipation for each scene he would be in. Follow that up with the Netherfield Ball and I am ready for a straight jacket. I don't think there has been a more understated, yet revealing dance sequence ever filmed. As with others, after this scene, I was totally a goner.

In BJD, I watch the movie - all the time - from the "Smug Married Couples" scene on. After I first saw BJD, I was captivated with this scene. His descent of the stairs is so elegant, he conveys his nervousness as he descends and (sigh) his struggle for words (a trademark of his) during the speech is also a trademark. Then there's the sighs.  The rest of the movie from here is just THE BEST!

I'd seen quite a few CF films and didn't really know what all of the fuss was about!

I like him in BJD and understood his standoffish manner.

Then I saw P&P, OMG what had I been missing, I mean, I didn't even want to watch the film (which was part of my niece's homework)!!!

I then had to sit down and watch all of the other films again, only this time they had their effect. I can't pinpoint the exact moment in P&P that the magic worked it's spell.

There are so many things that ODB does that make you tingle when watching his films that to try and list them would be criminal.

Diane, unbelievable. Almost half the comments mirrored my experience:
-never heard of him before
-saw bjd and was blown away
-loved the doorway scene, the last kiss and "oh yes they f'n do"
-went out and rented other movies

One note: I mentioned that I didn't understand the appeal in P&P, but after hearing all the nuances of his character that I completely missed trying to follow the plot, now I do.

I thank all of you on this list for opening my eyes to the wonderful moments of P&P. Gotta go get it again!

I think I have to have first really taken notice in P&P when he's gazing at Elizabeth through the bathroom window. Oh those eyes and the damp hair. Really got the vibrations going. Other scenes of course too but that one jolted me. Also the "oh yes they f***ing do kiss. That goes without saying.

One of my favorite scenes I can't get enough of is from Lost Empires. The entire Christmas night rendezvous with Julie, from the time she comes to his digs to the time she leaves. Just can't get enough of that. So much emotion, expression, a real chemistry between those two. Job well done.

P&P is one of my favourite books of all times. I read it at least every second year and am every time anxious whether Lizzy and Darcy will end up together or not (well, kind of....). I loved the BBC production of 1979 and at last bought it via eBay Sept 2003.

Afterwards I found out that there was another production. Of course I bought it, too. And I fell for ODB, which was quite inevitable, I think.  Although I didn't do it until the loving looks Lizzy and Darcy exchange at Pemberley. (As ODB himself and his friends I had a totally different idea of Darcy and had at first difficulties adjusting my imagination with the actor. I found him attractive from the beginning, no doubt about that, but just not
Darcy-like enough....)

I found the wet shirt scene and the whole jump-in-the-lake-business rather unnecessary (since it wasn't in the novel). But I realized their unexpected encounter afterwards, their embarrassment and the absurdly formal small talk was highly improved through Darcy's deranged clothing.