# Movie Characters Who Remind You of Dopers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305 "2005-03-19T12:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/1 "2005-03-19T12:41:10Z")
I was reflecting on the irony of my screen name vis-a-vis that of CK Dexter Haven. Cary Grant made the film in which he appeared as Roger Thornhill when he was 54, while he was about 36 when he made _The Philadelphia Story_. Now, while I will admit to being about ten years older than Grant was when he starred as Dexter, I do in fact look about 36. Or so I am often told by members of the Filipina community in Hong Kong. Dex, as we all know, is getting on a bit, so, much as I like Dex, and as much as I like my user name, we are as it were the wrong way round from a fighting ignorance point of view - the only one that really counts. So, which movie characters do you associate with dopers? I’ll kick off with three of the veterans of the board. **Cecil** - his namesake in _A Room with a View_, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The kind of guy who’d prefer to stick his nose in a book in the library rather than play badminton with Helena Bonham-Carter. **Eve** - Norma Desmond in _Sunset Boulevard_, played by Gloria Swanson. Dramatic silent movie star. **Polycarp** - Saint Francis of Assisi in Zefferelli’s _Brother Sun and Sister Moon_, played by Graham Faulkner. The man who could preach to the birds, but whose wisdom often fell on deaf human ears. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/2 "2005-03-19T16:05:32Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > **Cecil** - his namesake in _A Room with a View_, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The kind of guy who’d prefer to stick his nose in a book in the library rather than play badminton with Helena Bonham-Carter. I always thought of **Cecil** as more of an Obi Wan and **Ed Zotti** as an enfocer version of Yoda. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/3 "2005-03-19T16:46:38Z")
I see **Eve** more as _Auntie Mame_ (Rosalind Russell, **not** the Lucille Ball heresy). It’s not a movie character but everytime I see a post by **Annie Xmas** I picture of course a giantess with “a very special necklace”. **rjung** of the Bush rants reminds me of Steve Buscemi from _Wedding Singer_. **GoBear** , if only because of his screen name, conjures images of Hoss Cartwright. **Diogenes the Cynic** , for reasons totally inexplicable, makes me think of Derek Jacoby in one of his toga roles (Claudius, Gladiator, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/4 "2005-03-19T17:55:06Z")
There is one doper out there that reminds me of Pocahontas’s pet raccoon. Funny thing is, I’m never in the same room as him. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/5 "2005-03-20T02:06:07Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I see **Eve** more as _Auntie Mame_ (Rosalind Russell, **not** the Lucille Ball heresy). Very possibly - I’ve never seen this film, though. It was the nostalgia for the silent era that was the clincher for me. > [@](#): > > **Diogenes the Cynic** , for reasons totally inexplicable, makes me think of Derek Jacobi in one of his toga roles (Claudius, Gladiator, etc.) Spot on. And **Brutus** must be in a toga too, of course. **tomndebb** - Quintus Arrius (had to look that up) in Ben-Hur. **Starving Artist** - perhaps Mr Chips from the 30s picture. Nice, but not exactly the brightest light bulb in the candelabra. Robert Donat of _39 Steps_ fame, as I recall, was the actor. Exceedingly handsome fellow (as indeed every man with a Hitchcock connection is), so perhaps not a good choice, after all. **Andy Polley** - the Peter Fonda character from _Easy Rider_. Although I can’t imagine that dude being such an old woman when it comes to interviewing practices. **Zoe** - radical older woman type. Got to be Kate Hepburn in something. Or perhaps Lauren Bacall in _Woman of the Year_. Okay, not a movie, but just sorta seems to fit. **Duffer** - _Happy Gilmore_, of course. (Or should that be on course?) ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/6 "2005-03-20T02:56:13Z")
**Brutus** makes me thing of that Bluto guy in the Popeye cartoons. Seeing **Edlyn** ’s posts conjures up Lillian Gish in _Night of the Hunter_ - the wise, heroic religous woman who protects the children. I can’t think of who **Muad’Dib** reminds me of, but I’m sure it will come. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/7 "2005-03-20T02:58:54Z")
Say, did you want to entitle this thread “Dopers who remind you of movie characters?” I sort of put two TV characters in there. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/8 "2005-03-20T03:19:47Z")
> [@AlbertRose](#): > > Say, did you want to entitle this thread “Dopers who remind you of movie characters?” I sort of put two TV characters in there. :smack: Say, I probably did, but I think it CAN work the other way, non? Dialectically speaking. I forgive you the TV characters. Thanks for playing. I was getting quite depressed, and had actually considered not renewing my membership, because of the pathetic response I was getting. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/9 "2005-03-20T03:30:54Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > **Starving Artist** - perhaps Mr Chips from the 30s picture. Nice, but not exactly the brightest light bulb in the candelabra. Only because of my “when in Rome” philosophy. Around more challenging types, I allow my intelligence a freer rein. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/10 "2005-03-20T03:38:41Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Only because of my “when in Rome” philosophy. Around more challenging types, I allow my intelligence a freer rein. **Starvers** , did you think of that comeback yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/11 "2005-03-20T03:41:13Z")
Yup. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/12 "2005-03-21T01:29:17Z")
**Airman Doors** is a dead ringer for James Stewart, while I envisage **EddyTeddyFreddy** as Kristin Scott-Thomas. Probably the horse connection. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/13 "2005-03-21T02:16:04Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > I always thought of **Cecil** as more of an Obi Wan and **Ed Zotti** as an enfocer version of Yoda. I always pictured Cecil more as Ving Rhames with Ed as his hitman Samuel L. Jackson. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/14 "2005-03-21T02:23:46Z")
Or could \*\*Cecil \*\* be Nicholas Cage to **Ed** ’s John Travolta, a la Face/Off? Or should that be the other way round? ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/15 "2005-03-21T02:25:39Z")
**QtM** reminds me of Qadgop the Mercotan. I have this picture in my mind from a b/w sci fi film, but maybe I’m projecting. Was that story ever made into a film? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/16 "2005-03-21T22:31:22Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > **Starving Artist** - perhaps Mr Chips from the 30s picture. Nice, but not exactly the brightest light bulb in the candelabra. You know, **rog** , ol’ buddy. I’ve been puzzling over this rather enexpected bit of snideness on your part, and trying to figure out the reason as I thought we were buds. Now, while I’m certainly no Bill Gates or Stephen Hawking, I do regard myself as being at least in the top fifty percentile or so in regard to brain function. So I’ve been perplexed. At first I though it was due to jealousy on your part due to the rapport I have with the lovely and talented **Zoe**. :: tips hat to Zoe, "Howdy, ma’am. 😉 :: Then I remembered that I had inadvertantly referred to Thoreau as “Walden.” :smack: But then again, to such a bright light as yourself, any number of things could have been the reason. (After all, you’d already smacked me for no good reason that I could discern over having not read _Walden’s Pond_.) So, before I come riding to your defense again the next time someone assails you, I thought I’d better ask the weighty question (and forgive me if you aren’t familiar with _South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut_), “What’s the big fucking deal, bitch?” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/17 "2005-03-22T00:16:27Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > **Eve** - Norma Desmond in _Sunset Boulevard_, played by Gloria Swanson. Dramatic silent movie star. I can’t go on with my post, I’m too happy! Mr. Thornhill, do you mind if I hijack your OP? Thank you. I just want to tell you all how _happy_ I am to be back on the Board making a post again! You don’t know how much I’ve missed all of you. And I promise you, I’ll never desert you again, because after this thread, we’ll post another thread, and another! You see, this is my life. It always will be! There’s nothing else – just Cecil – and our computers – \*and you wonderful Dopers out there in the dark. \* All right, Mr, Cajun Man, I’m ready for my warning . . . ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/18 "2005-03-22T00:53:40Z")
**Starvers** , please forgive my snideness. I got a bit exuberant in the piss-taking stakes. Though an attention whore, I also get a bit odd (odder than my normal “quirky”) when people are so nice. All meant in good part. I accept my punishment like a man. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/19 "2005-03-22T02:59:01Z")
friend eve, we missed you, too. welcome back ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305/20 "2005-03-22T03:18:01Z")
**Eve** , I think posting in character is quite acceptable in this thread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-characters-who-remind-you-of-dopers/295305.md?page=2)