Porthos an homage to Dumas?
Interesting how Porthos is made part black, descended from slavery and with a particular bug bear about slavery - just like Alexandre Dumas (they even look similar). Does anyone know if this as intentional?
shareI read somewhere that Porthos was cast as homage to Dumas, but I can't remember where it was so I don't know how reliable the article was.
It is also very possible that the homage came after Howard Charles was cast. The Porthos from the original story did not have a backstory about being descended from slavery. I do not think Alexandre Dumas ever gave any indication towards his race. However, I have read that Alexandre Dumas modeled Porthos after himself. So either is possible.
Either way, he does a remarkable job with the role. I think he's my favourite Porthos to date.
It's something you'll get used to a mental mind *beep* can be nice!
However, I have read that Alexandre Dumas modeled Porthos after himself.
I think rather, he modelled some of his characters after his own father, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a general in the French Army. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas-Alexandre_Dumas
Apparently, his father's life and military career - especially the early years in the Queen's Dragoons - inspired some of Dumas's novels. More details can be found in Tom Reiss's biography The Black Count https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Count:_Glory,_Revolution,_Betrayal,_and_the_Real_Count_of_Monte_Cristo
Actor Howard Charles as Porthos resembles this description of Dumas's father: "“one of the handsomest men you could ever meet. [...] His frizzy hair recalls the curls of the Greeks and Romans.”" share