Quintessential British Gentleman: Difference between revisions

 

{{quote|'''TheHelldragon:''' Shake your fist in angry, British rage, Tom!

 

Start with one cup(pa) [[Spot of Tea|tea.]] Mix in a hearty helping of [[British Accents]]... no, it doesn't matter which, any will do. No one ([[Dan Browned|except those pesky British people]]) will notice. Add some [[Stock British Phrases]] for seasoning, wot, wot. Throw it all in a top hat and stir with a [[High-Class Glass|monocle]] over low heat for the 1000+ years in the history of [[The British Empire]]. Turn it out carefully, give him a name like "Sir Nigel Featherstonehaugh-Smythe," and Bob's your uncle, you have yourself the [[I Am Very British|Britishiest British man]] to ever "cheerio" his way into the media-viewing-public's home. And no one ([[Dan Browned|except those pesky British people]]) will be any the wiser that you're mixing dialectal phrases willy-nilly or throwing British slang around like Frisbees.

* A [[Distinguished Gentleman's Pipe]], often in the Calabash style (the style [[Sherlock Holmes]] made famous).

* A crazy mustache.

* An Autoharp or harpsichord playing in the background.

* A cane or umbrella.

 

 

 

Actual British [[Blue Blood|Gentlemanly]] behaviour is more subtle the speech or dress, involving the virtues of [[Sacred Hospitality|hospitality]] and temperance, the avoidance of extremes, devotion to 'things held dear', rebellion against corruption, courage in adversity, and [[Stiff Upper Lip|extreme composure]]. (However, some of these - notably extreme composure - are sometimes seen in trope form).

 

{{examples}}

* Negi Springfield of ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' is a proto-version of this (at least at first), complete with tea. Lately though, he seems to be drifting in [[Badass|a different direction]].

** Even after becoming more of a Shonen hero (though not quite a [[Idiot Hero|standard]] one), however, he will still turn a diplomatic talk into a duel of honor between him and [[The Dragon]] over an argument about tea.

** His voice actor, [[Noriaki Sugiyama]], said in an interview that he thought England was trying [[Not So Above It All|but failing]] to be this trope. Well, he pulls it off sometimes, notably when his role isn't the [[Only Sane Man]].

* ''[[Hellsing]]'' - watch the composed and polite gentlemen in expensive suits around the table as the enemies close in on them... {{spoiler|though in the end Sir Integra proved to be the strongest gentleman of them all}}.

 

== Comic Books ==

* The title character of ''Amney Crucis Investigates'' is the type written by a Brit.

 

== Film ==

{{quote|'''Andy McAllister:''' Sedately Barney, as befits our years and station in life.

[Barney squeals tires as they leave the parking lot] }}

 

== Literature ==

* Although [[Sherlock Holmes]] himself does not really fit this trope, a few of the supporting characters from his stories do, particularly the clients he takes among the upper classes (such as the Duke in "The Adventure of the Priory School").

* Phileas Fogg, the protagonist of [[Jules Verne]]'s ''[[Around the World in Eighty Days]]'', of course. His favourite hangout is a gentlemen's club in London.

 

== Live-Action TV ==

* Bernard Fox also did this very well:

** Col. Rodney Crittendon on ''[[Hogan's Heroes]]''

** Major Bently Royce on ''[[F Troop]]''

** Sub-Lieutenant Clivedon on ''[[McHales Navy]]''

* This was done quite a bit on [[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]. For example, in one episode where Geoffrey's long-lost comes to visit (who claims that he has plans to attend Butler School) Carlton becomes fascinated to the point where he begins to imitate the British Gentleman stereotype, bowler hat, pip pips and all.

* Many sketches from ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' parodied the stuffy British stereotype that their parents' generation more closely embodied.

 

== Music ==

* [[Professor Elemental]] evokes one of these, with a mix of upper crust British accent, adventurer's outfit, [[Sherlock Holmes]] pipe and raps about tea and mad science experiments.

* The Wayfarers: "Deck the Sheds" is based on the idea that an audience of these is being treated to [[Land Down Under|an Australian version]] of "Deck the Halls". At first they're enthusiastic about it, with lines like "Spiffing!" After it turns out the song has "Rip a bloody hugey, bonza mate!" instead of the traditional fa-la-la, they're...less wowed.

 

== Theatre ==

 

* The last boss, Sir Richard Rose, in the 1991 side scrolling action game ''[[Sunset Riders]]''. His two lines of dialogue are "Cheerio, old chap!" and "I say, bit of bad luck."

* [[Professor Layton]] is actually fairly tame... but he ''is'' very polite and smart, and he ''does'' love his tea. He also stresses—frequently—the correct behavior expected of a gentleman.

* The titular character from ''[[The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom]]'' isn't a nice version of these. He always wants something for himself and do whatever whatever he needs, even at the expense of others. He gets better.

 

 

* Parodied/deconstructed with ''[[Englishman]]'', who is in some ways the stereotypical British gentleman as imagined by Americans (he lives in the USA, and [[They Fight Crime|fights crime]]), but the series is written by two Britons. Also, he embodies the darker side of the British upper classes as well, cheerfully trading in slaves, shooting foreigners and so on.

* [[Whateley Universe]] example: Fey's magic tutor Sir Wallace Westmont, who's virtually a [[Shout-Out]] to John Steed, down to the bowler and accent. He even has an [[Action Girl]] accompanying him to [[Super-Hero School|Whateley Academy]].

* Played with in the bizarre [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWQoK506xkQ "Leg Peeing"] sketch by The Whitest Kids You Know.

* National Cynical Network's "Chap in the Hood" series. A toned-down example, possibly because it was recorded around 4:20.

* Mr. Green online casino has a series of videos dedicated to this. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2IAQEgJ_tI Here's the first one.]

* [http://www.youtube.com/adamzonetopmarks "GameChap and Bertie"] of [[YouTube]] fame play off this trope.

 

== Western Animation ==

{{quote|"I say, Dinsmore, may I have some tea?"}}

* The titular star of ''[[Around the World with Willy Fog]]''.

 

== Real Life ==

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:National Stereotyping Tropes]]

[[Category:Characterization Tropes]]

[[Category:An Index of Ladies and Gentlemen]]