Dumbledore and Harry: A look back

Firefly · October 2011

This has improved my opinion on Michael Gambon a bit.

I do like to think that behind the scenes he was more enthusiastic about the role and the oblivious attitude he had to Potter when facing the press was just a ruse.

Lord Stafford · October 2011

It's the same with Ralph. He always has that look about him, saying 'Dear god, i hate the press' but, then... when he has an interview talking about his character, he is all for it.

Lord Stafford.

SwedishSkinJer · October 2011

Gambon always enjoys pulling the strings during interviews. He's hilarious.

Lord Stafford · October 2011

He is, indeed. He also understands his character very well, as does Ralph.

Lord Stafford.

Martin1 · October 2011

Don't believe everything Gambon says to the media, loll. He likes to lie to them. A lot. Aka, he has read the books despite saying he hadn't.

Lord Stafford · October 2011

Oh, i know how he is.

Lord Stafford.

Martin1 · October 2011

Oh, i know how he is.

Lord Stafford.

That was directed to Firefly who seems borderline with Gambon with that comment

UniversHarryPotter.c · October 2011

Why you're focused about reading the boo even Harris said he just accept because his granddaughter tell him she will not speak anymore if he doesn't accept

Martin1 · October 2011

Why you're focused about reading the boo even Harris said he just accept because his granddaughter tell him she will not speak anymore if he doesn't accept

Oh I'm not focused on that, I was merely clarifying.

What annoys me is that people call Gambon awful and Harris perfect. I'd bet anything in the world if Gambon played the gentle professor in SS and CoS and Harris played it tough in GoF and OotP, no one would like him. People annoy me when they don't think -.-

UniversHarryPotter.c · October 2011

+1
And personnaly i love Harris but i never think he was the dumbledore JO describes, he didn't have this crazy touch that i love so much in Albus , the perfect Albus is an mixed one Gambon+Harris

Martin1 · October 2011

+1
And personnaly i love Harris but i never think he was the dumbledore JO describes, he didn't have this crazy touch that i love so much in Albus , the perfect Albus is an mixed one Gambon+Harris

My perfect Dumbledore would be Gambon year 3 and year 6+. Quirky, nice, whimsical, and intelligent.

Braveheart · October 2011

LMAO Gambon's little dance at the end of that video was hilarious. I don't understand why so many people took so long to warm to him, and why many still haven't. They couldn't have found a person who is more like Dumbledore in real life than that guy.

yonythemoony · October 2011

Harris was the sweet, excentric, warm Dumbledore. But he wasn't the powerful Dumbledore, the one Voldemort is afraid of.

aaron · October 2011

That was cute and funny. Michael Gambon seems like such a great person, and so fun to be around. He's one of the most masterful British actors of all time at the moment.

GinaC · October 2011

Nice video--thank you!

Richard Harris is my favorite. I guess we all just imagine Dumbledore in different ways. I think Gambon just didn't look the part the way Harris did. His costume was horrible, I hated the gray stringy hair, and he didn't have the sparkly eyes.... Harris could give that look that made Harry feel as though he were being x-rayed just perfectly ("Is there something you wish to tell me?"), and his costumes were incredible. Gambon got better as time went on, though! I absolutely loved him in the Prince's Tale! And his "Albus Percival Wulfric BRIAN Dumbledore." PERFECTLY delivered!

Richard · October 2011

Will this be on the bluray of DH2?

Braveheart · October 2011

Nice video--thank you!

Richard Harris is my favorite. I guess we all just imagine Dumbledore in different ways. I think Gambon just didn't look the part the way Harris did. His costume was horrible, I hated the gray stringy hair, and he didn't have the sparkly eyes.... Harris could give that look that made Harry feel as though he were being x-rayed just perfectly ("Is there something you wish to tell me?"), and his costumes were incredible. Gambon got better as time went on, though! I absolutely loved him in the Prince's Tale! And his "Albus Percival Wulfric BRIAN Dumbledore." PERFECTLY delivered!

Well I would argue that so many fans are too caught up with how the character looks and forget that the important thing is how they act. So many people from the moment Gambon appeared in POA in his different robes and tied beard just judged superficially on his appearance; they dismissed that POA is arguably the closest to book Dumbledore in terms of character that the movies have ever come. Then they look at Harris, see the extravagent (overly so in my opinion) robes and brand him perfect - exactly as described in the book. Well, maybe looks wise, which I noticed is how Emma describes him in the video actually, but in terms of character I found him humourless and without presence. He seemed bored and tired. I guess we all have different views, but people judged Gambon too harshly from the start just because of the wardrobe; notice how many more people like HBP than POA Dumbledore, which is strange, because if anything he's less Dumbledore-ish in HBP...I reckon it's to do with the fact that his beard suddenly became long and perfectly white. So superficial we can be.

Anyway, I concede the look Harris sometimes gave, but then I would contest that we wouldn't have seen him do that in later movies because there were almost no Columbus-style closeup reaction shots every two seconds, so there would be less room for the over the glasses look.

aaron · October 2011

Harris worked for the innocent Dumbledore, the wise mentor. In the later books, however, as Harry grew older, he began to think of Dumbledore as a friend and mentor, rather than someone whose achievements he could never reach. Dumbledore began to grow into more of a vulnerable, human person with flaws and emotions. He also began to have more humor, wit, and sarcasm. Gambon captured this flavor perfectly in the later films, most notably POA. In GOF, he was a little rough and aggressive, but still well-played (I think the flaws can be attributed to the screenwriter or director.) In OOTP, he was solemn and distant, as his character was in the book, and in HBP and DH2, he was the perfect blend: wise and witty, sometimes grave and serious.

yonythemoony · October 2011

I agree.

Joshie · October 2011

Harris worked for the innocent Dumbledore, the wise mentor. In the later books, however, as Harry grew older, he began to think of Dumbledore as a friend and mentor, rather than someone whose achievements he could never reach. Dumbledore began to grow into more of a vulnerable, human person with flaws and emotions. He also began to have more humor, wit, and sarcasm. Gambon captured this flavor perfectly in the later films, most notably POA. In GOF, he was a little rough and aggressive, but still well-played (I think the flaws can be attributed to the screenwriter or director.) In OOTP, he was solemn and distant, as his character was in the book, and in HBP and DH2, he was the perfect blend: wise and witty, sometimes grave and serious.

I couldn't agree more.

Liz · October 2011

Harris worked for the innocent Dumbledore, the wise mentor. In the later books, however, as Harry grew older, he began to think of Dumbledore as a friend and mentor, rather than someone whose achievements he could never reach. Dumbledore began to grow into more of a vulnerable, human person with flaws and emotions. He also began to have more humor, wit, and sarcasm. Gambon captured this flavor perfectly in the later films, most notably POA. In GOF, he was a little rough and aggressive, but still well-played (I think the flaws can be attributed to the screenwriter or director.) In OOTP, he was solemn and distant, as his character was in the book, and in HBP and DH2, he was the perfect blend: wise and witty, sometimes grave and serious.

Well said Aaron and I couldn't agree more with any of it!

Popkin · October 2011

Harris worked for the innocent Dumbledore, the wise mentor. In the later books, however, as Harry grew older, he began to think of Dumbledore as a friend and mentor, rather than someone whose achievements he could never reach. Dumbledore began to grow into more of a vulnerable, human person with flaws and emotions. He also began to have more humor, wit, and sarcasm. Gambon captured this flavor perfectly in the later films, most notably POA. In GOF, he was a little rough and aggressive, but still well-played (I think the flaws can be attributed to the screenwriter or director.) In OOTP, he was solemn and distant, as his character was in the book, and in HBP and DH2, he was the perfect blend: wise and witty, sometimes grave and serious.

Yep, this.

Dumbledore and Harry: A look back

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