Posted by V194 at 65.4.142.3 on March 23, 2004 at 08:36:03:
This is long but it is what the charcter is all about. Contrary to popular belief there is a distinct "persona" surrounding Britt Reid and The Green Hornet. IMHO this is what a casting director will need to look for in an actor.
Britt Reid/Green Hornet is:
-Debonair, with a great sense of humor
-Connoisseur of the arts, relaxes playing sports with the social register. Golf, trap shooting etc...
-A MAN that should be and able to verbally thrust and parry.
-Has network of snitches on the street with their ear to the ground.
Physical characteristics:
1. Tall, at least 6 foot or taller, clean shaven and generally a well groomed individual. One that looks like he works on Wall
Street. Well dressed and fit. Non smoker Non Drinker. 170 to 190 lbs.
2. Blonde or brunette
3. Unusual or striking eye color— blue, green, grey or a combination thereof Broad shouldered, lean hipped.
4. Very athletic, muscular, but not muscle bound.
5. Good looking, masculine. Makes the girls swoon, but not considered a "sissy boy" by the guys.
6. Mid to late 20's (figure the beginning Britt's leadership of the Sentinel no earlier than the mid 20's), up to early 30's at mid
career as the Green Hornet. At end of career likely mid to late 40's at the most.
7. A skilled fighter. Not as showy as Kato. Is a solid, business-like fighter. Sticks with the more traditional fisticuffs, but does
know other forms of martial arts. If Kato is the irresistible force, Britt is the immovable object. He uses his size and weight to
good advantage. Skilled at hand to hand combat. A master of no specific discipline but nearing expert level.
Personality:
1. Dynamic, a natural born leader. People follow him not only because he is the boss, but because he has earned their respect.
2. Confident, not riddled with self doubt about either himself or his mission in life (as Hornet or as head of the Sentinel). Well
grounded, both emotionally and psychologically.
3. Not flashy, not a show off, not prone to boasting. When he talks people listen because they know he means what he says.
4. Highly intelligent. Sometimes scoffed at by the old hands (like Axford) as being a college boy, but doesn't exist in an ivory
tower. His knowledge is concrete, objective, realistic.
5. Idealistic, believes that one man (or two) can and does make a difference. However is in touch with the gritty reality of life,
knows that what should be, isn't always what is.
6. Words are his weapons as much as is the Black Beauty or the Hornet Sting. Whether in a blistering editorial or messing with
the minds of his opponents, Britt's uses words with great skill.
7. Loves to play mind games with his opponents. He is the strategist, the maker of plans. Gets on the "Jazz". Can sometimes get
so involved in the plan that he does not take his own safety into consideration. Loves it when a plan comes to together. Nothing
would make him happier than to so totally mess up the bad guys that they turn themselves into the authorities without the Green
Hornet's involvement ever being apparent. Likely loves to play chess and does it very well.
8. Patient, steady, doesn't normally go head long into danger unless there is no other recourse.
9. Loyal to friends, family and employees. Supports his friends even if no one else does. Willing to risk everything for his friends.
Will stand by them when no one else does. The worse thing that can happen to him is when he is betrayed by a friend.
10. Has no regard for his own safety. Will risk everything, life, fortune, the Sentinel, for his mission.
11. Believes in justice. Not for the few but for everyone. Knows that justice is not just what's on the law books but a greater
law.
12. He is, in many ways, a man from another time. A simpler time when a man's word was his bond. Hard but fair. Driven but
not obsessive. A man that would rather use wits instead of brute force.
13. He believes in order and peace and follows the letter of the law. Pragmatic: he is someone who tries to work within the
system -- but unafraid to recognize when it fails. Won't start a fight, but he'll end it. Will go outside of the law to see that Justice
will prevail.
14. Put in any position, he is an inspiring leader (who leads by example). Someone who's generous with his time, money and
cherishes honesty in people, while hating duplicity and ambitious greed.
15. He views his other persona (Green Hornet) as a necessity. A means to an end.
16. Britt needs the Hornet to reach those that hide behind the law. The true criminals, the ones that give the orders. Without the
Hornet he can't approach the criminal element to get information. And they only respect brute force or someone who can
speak to them in their 'lingo'.
17. As the Hornet he's able to save innocent lives by keeping the bad guys at each others throats. Using their organization or
'their system' against them.
18. Britt would give up the Hornet identity tomorrow without looking back, if crime and corruption were handled efficiently by
the police.
19. Confident in every situation. Able to hold his own in speech and intimidation with any crime boss.
The above was complied by dedicated scholars of the Green Hornet. Many of the points were also taken directly from
correspondence between George Trendle and William Dozier when Dozier was casting for the TV series in 1966. Trendle
helped create the character in the late 1930's.