UOne of the magics of cinema is the ability to tell fantasy worlds. Sometimes, however, behind great characters that seem to have emerged from nothing there is a real person. Here are some of them with their respective inspiration models.
Tony Stark – Iron Man: the eccentric inventor
The charismatic billionaire of Iron Man he doesn’t come from nothing: his character is inspired by Howard Hughesaviator, engineer, director and film producer, known for his inventions and over-the-top character (he is the subject of The Aviator by Martin Scorsese). As Tony Stark, Hughes was brilliant, irreverent and ambitious. The cartoonist, creator of Iron Man, Stan Lee described him as an inventor, an adventurer, a billionaire, a womanizer and a little crazy.
Dude – The Big Lebowski: the king of relaxation
Jeffrey Lebowski, known as “Dude“, is an outsider, an outcast of society played by Jeff Bridges and inspired by Jeff Dowd: Eccentric film producer known for his infectious calm and unique way of looking at life. The Coen brothers have transformed these peculiarities into an authentic and memorable character, capable of conquering entire generations thanks to his spontaneity.
Ursula – The Little Mermaid: the witch with theatrical charm
The famous one villain Disney is not the result of pure imagination. Ursula draws inspiration from the drag queen DivineJohn Waters’ muse who died a year after the film’s release, in 1988. Bold, theatrical and capable of dominating the scene, Divine gave the character that mix of charisma and theatricality that makes him one of the most iconic villains of all time.
Hannibal Lecter – The Silence of the Lambs: the Mexican nightmare
Behind Hannibal Lecter there is a true story. The author Thomas Harris he was inspired by the Mexican doctor Alfredo Ballí Treviñoprotagonist of a shocking crime case Monterrey in 1959. The city was shaken by a series of brutal crimes, and the profile of this doctor contributed to building one of the most disturbing characters in the history of cinema.
Travis Bickle – Taxi Driver: the real torment
The tormented protagonist of Taxi Driver was born from the true story of Arthur Bremerman who attempted to assassinate the politician in 1972 George Wallace. After his arrest for the Wallace assassination attempt, his diary came to light, where it was discovered that he had previously planned to kill the president Richard Nixon. Travis’ loneliness, paranoia, and obsession reflect Bremer’s restless mindwhile Paul Schrader’s script transforms this dramatic reality into a cinematic masterpiece.
Edna Mode – The Incredibles: fashion and genius
The most famous designer of animated films, Edna Modeis inspired by the Hollywood costume designer Edith Headwinner of eight Oscar awards. Head has designed costumes for over 400 films, 11 of them Alfred Hitchcock. Edna is a tribute, an explicit homage to one of the greatest costume designers in the history of cinema thanks to her distinctive look made of bangs, round dark glasses and two-piece suits. Both work in the fashion industry, they share an eccentric character and a charismatic personality.
The four vultures – The Jungle Book: tribute to the Beatles
Not everyone knows this, but i four vultures from the Disney film The Jungle Book are a clear reference to Fab Four, the Beatles. In 1967, when the film was released, the band was at the peak of its career. Even though they refused to dub the characters in the film, the designers inserted them anyway, recreating the accents and traits of the group members and immortalizing the band in an original and fun way.
Severus Snape – Harry Potter: the chemistry teacher
JK Rowling revealed some time ago that the character of Severus Snape really existed: the feared potions professor is inspired by the writer’s chemistry teacher, John Nettleship. A brusque man, direct and feared by his students. When Rowling published the novels of Harry Pottermany former students immediately noticed the similarities: the severe appearance, the sarcasm, the role of feared but respected teacher. Nettleship himself recognized the inspiration and was impressed.
Viktor Navorski – The Terminal: the man trapped in the airport
In The Terminal, Tom Hanks interprets Viktor Navorskia man forced to live in the airport without documents, identity and a country of origin. The story is inspired by Mehran Karimi Nasseri, Iranian who was stuck at Charles de Gaulle airport from 1998 to 2006. During a trip to the United Kingdom, Nasseri lost his documents: without a passport or legal identity, he could not enter the country or go back. Over time he adopted the pseudonym of “Sir Alfred Mehran” and built a routine of reading, writing and observing travellers. His story attracted media attention around the world and became a symbol of the contradictions of bureaucracy and the plight of refugees.
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