Only a month until Vienna Waltz is published. I just received a lovely new box of ARCs from my publisher. So to celebrate and get through the nerve-wracking month until publication, every week from now until its March 29 publication date, I’ll give away another ARC to a commenter.
As I settle in front of the tv to enjoy movie clips and gorgeous gowns for Academy Awards Sunday, it seems appropriate to have a movie-themed contest. To be entered in this week drawing for an ARC, post your casting choices for Charles/Malcolm, Mélanie/Suzanne, and/or any of the other characters in any of the book in the series.
Or, say the characters were transplanted the present day, and Simon was nominated for Best Screenplay (probably adapted from one of his plays). Simon, David, and Charles would all be in classic tuxes. What would Mélanie wear? You can describe a dress, name a designer, or reference a gown from tonight’s awards show.
I’ll post the winner next week. If you’ve already received an ARC, do feel free to discuss the book, here or elsewhere, if you feel so inclined.
Following up on the Fraser Correspondence letters the last two weeks for Lady Elizabeth and Raoul, I’ve just posted one from a young Charles to Raoul at the same time.
Tracy Grant - Novelist 
February 28, 2011 at 12:04 am
Great idea! I would cast Marion Cotillard as Melanie (beautiful, mysterious, French) and I really loved her opposite Leo DiCaprio in Inception, so Leo as Charles (dashing, handsome, strong).
February 28, 2011 at 1:27 am
Thanks, Christine! Marion Cotillard is a great suggestion for Mélanie. Cool to have someone who’s French. I have a little more trouble seeing Leonardo DiCaprio as Charles, because he always seems very American to me. But he’s a wonderful actor, so I have no doubt he could pull it off.
February 28, 2011 at 1:29 am
For Melanie, Mila Kunis. She has the delicacy, the subtle sexiness and femininity that is the outer Melanie and the acting chops to pull off the strength, secrecy and conflicting emotions that characterize the inner Melanie.
For Charles, perhaps Christian Bale? First, I love when he speaks with his natural British accent! He can be amazingly handsome and sexy…or not, which is important as Charles needs to be able to sink into the background sometimes. And he is one of the most gifted young actors who will be able to show his emotions on his face without having to say a word.
February 28, 2011 at 1:31 am
Eva Green as Melanie/Suzanne.
Karl Urban might do as Charles/Malcolm.
February 28, 2011 at 1:51 am
Mila Kunis is a really interesting suggestion, Lena. I haven’t seen “Black Swan” yet (or any of her movies, I think), but I can see it based on the clips I’ve seen. She has a toughness that seems right. And I’ve actually thought of Christian Bale as a Charles possibility.
February 28, 2011 at 1:55 am
I completely agree with Marion Cotillard as Melanie! For Charles, I can see a more subdued/controlled Hugh Jackman in the part.
February 28, 2011 at 2:11 am
I think Eva Green is a great choice for Mel/Suzanne, JMM. Recently, watching the ending of “Casino Royale” helped me nail (hopefully!) the ending of the Waterloo book.
I confess I’m blanking on Karl Urban. What’s he been in?
February 28, 2011 at 2:12 am
Thanks, Darlene! I think Hugh Jackman has a sweetness that’s a very important aspect of Charles.
February 28, 2011 at 2:31 am
I take back my Leo and I re-submit with Henry Cavill from The Tudors, and the new Superman.
February 28, 2011 at 2:53 am
I could definitely see Henry Cavill as Charles/Malcolm, Christine. Particularly, for some reason, in Vienna Waltz.
February 28, 2011 at 3:08 am
p.s.
And I could actually see the actress who played Brandon’s wife in “The Tudors” as a very young Mélanie/Suzanne.
February 28, 2011 at 3:22 am
I second the idea of Marion Cotillard as Mélanie. I see Matthew MacFadyen as Charles.
February 28, 2011 at 3:34 am
Catherine Willoughby? I could definitely see that! I also didn’t realize that when they brought her back at the very end of the series, it was a different actress. I think I remember they didn’t really show her face, but I didn’t notice it was someone else.
February 28, 2011 at 3:38 am
Thanks, Amy! Nice to have another vote for Marion Cotillard. And I’ve though Matthew MacFadyen would make a good Charles ever since I first saw him on MI-5.
February 28, 2011 at 3:39 am
Yes, Catherine Willoughby, Christine. I don’t remember the actress’s name. And I haven’t seen the last season, so I didn’t realize they used a different actress at the end.
February 28, 2011 at 3:42 am
I had to look her up – Rebekah Wainwright.
February 28, 2011 at 3:50 am
Thanks! There’s a scene between her and Brandon, early in their marriage, where she asks him something along the order of if he’s going to break her heart, that had something of the tone I was going for in some of the Vienna Waltz scenes.
February 28, 2011 at 5:53 am
Karl Urban was Bones in the Star Trek movie, and Cooper in “Red”. He was also in Lord of the Rings, # 2 and 3. I can’t remember the name. I have such a crush.
February 28, 2011 at 6:23 am
Thanks! Was Cooper in Red the one who ended up changing sides and helping the heroes at the end?
February 28, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Matthew McFayden as Charles has my vote. I hadn’t thought of Marion Cotillard, but she would be great. I was thinking Emmy Rossum as Melanie/Suzanne.
I picture Ciaran Hinds as Raoul.
February 28, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Yes, that’s him.
February 28, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Emmy Rossum is another good suggestion, Susan. I can particularly see her as the younger Mel/Suzanne in Vienna Waltz. And Ciaran Hinds is a great suggestion for Raoul!
February 28, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Thanks, JMM! I could totally see him as Charles/Malcolm.
March 2, 2011 at 5:43 am
Suzanne/Melanie would wear something silver and clingy and bold. Malcolm/Charles would wear a classic tux.
March 2, 2011 at 8:06 am
Great suggestion, JMM. Silver’s one of the colors I see Mélanie/Suzanne in. In fact in the Waterloo book I have her in silver net at the Duchess of Richmond’s ball. So I can totally see a modern Mel/Suzette in something silver and slinky and bold but still elegant. And definitely a totally classic tux for Charles/Malcolm, no embellishments. But he’d look good in it :-).
March 2, 2011 at 8:05 pm
I think I like the red Anne Hathaway dress for Melanie.
March 2, 2011 at 11:00 pm
The red Valentino Anne Hathaway wore on the red carpet, Christine? That was gorgeous, and I can totally see a modern Mel in something like that (she has similar coloring to Anne Hathaway). Anne Hathaway also had another pretty red dress on when she was interviewed at the after party.
March 3, 2011 at 12:52 am
I forgot she wore multiple red dresses. I meant the one she wore during the show http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20311937_20469426,00.html#20917392, but the red carpet one was gorgeous as well.
March 3, 2011 at 1:19 am
That’s definitely a good Melanie dresss–maybe even more so than the red carpet one because it’s sleeker.
March 8, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Looking at these past comments i think that Christian Bale would be perfect for the role of Charles and Marion Cotillard as Melanie…although Eva Green reminds more of Melanie than any other actress.
March 8, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Thanks, Surinder! I love hearing the different casting suggestions.