William Powell and Myrna Loy, Tracy and Hepburn, Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon, Fred and Ginger, Cary Grant and Irene Dunne;
Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, Gable and Claudette Colbert, Bogart and Bacall. If you’re a movie buff like me, I’m sure you’ll recognize these famous Golden Age of Hollywood duos, appreciating their magical on screen chemistry in movies like Woman of the Year, The Thin Man, Swing Time, My Favorite Wife, It Happened One Night, Julia Misbehaves, To Have and Have Not, Ball of Fire. Drama, musical, screwball comedy. Besides a well written script and good direction the reason audiences clamored to these movies, and why they’re still so popular today via TCM and streaming is because of that special on screen chemistry between actor and actress. A chemistry a LinkedIn description defines as ‘both a romantic and sexual chemistry that’s evident, makes the relationship seem natural; the spark, the connection, the rapport that draws the audience into the story and it’s characters’. Wanting, and rooting for them to be together.
(Cary Grant and Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth)
And in The Guardian (November 24, 2016) is an article, The Sizzling Secrets of On-Screen Chemistry From Dirty Dancing to LaLa Land. Pamela Stephenson Connolly writes, by common agreement, a couple either have it or don’t. Then cites Bogart and Bacall as having it in To Have and Have Not. And Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as not having it in By the Sea. Connolly also asks the question, Can these celluloid relationships really be viewed objectively? Her answer, It’s complicated. Connolly’s article is informative and interesting, delving
deep into on screen romantic relationships.
My analysis is more simple. Yes, between some actors/actresses there can be a special, recognizable, unique chemistry evident to the viewer, making the movie, or television series much more entertaining and enjoyable to watch.
Which brings me to Remington Steele. A popular television
series starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan
It aired on NBC for five seasons (1982 - 1987). Co- created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason it was produced by MTM Enterprises. It was a favorite of my husband and mine. We watched weekly, and were disappointed when the series ended. But now, these many years later I’m watching again - streaming on Prime, and throughly enjoying each episode. To be honest I had forgotten some of the storylines, full of frolic and adventure; the great clothes Laura Holt wears - and those fabulous hats! Timely and stylish in the 1930’s, 80’s or now. And Mr. Steele’s wardrobe. He wears a Tux well. Then there’s that great on screen, almost tangible chemistry between Stephanie Zimbalist and Brosnan. Together they’re striking. They move in sync. The back and forth banter the scriptwriters provided them seems so natural and real. And their looks of love and tenderness toward one another. Their passionate kisses. In season 2, Episode 13 Laura grabs Steele by the lapels of his coat saying, We’ll work that out between us, won’t we?, and kisses Steele on the lips. Reminiscent of those movie star duos, and movies mentioned earlier. One especially comes to mind, The Awful Truth starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. Columbia. 1937. A fast paced romantic comedy, Grant and Dunne play Lucy and Jerry Warriner, a married couple seeking a divorce because of misunderstanding and innuendo, even though they really do love each other. Each one takes aim at breaking up new relationships of the other before the divorce can be finalized. By the end of the movie there is no divorce, and the Warringer’s remain together.
When Laura and Steele are out chasing bad guys, like Nick and Nora Charles did, they sometimes drive a very cool 1936 cream colored Auburn Super Charged Speedster, which lends even more connection to those classic movies of the past. Sometimes they resort to thievery themselves (for a good purpose) and dress like To Catch a Thief cat burglars. Both very attractive in their black slacks and turtleneck sweater. And the wonderful dialogue and references to classic movies that help them to solve their cases is a treat.
After the series ended Stephanie Zimbalist did theater work, Pierce Brosnan took on the James Bond role, which to many fans became his prize role, forgetting his success as Remington Steele. I say there were several who played James Bond, some before Brosnan and some after. And all are compared to the greatest, and first James Bond, Sean Connery. But there is only ONE Remington Steele - Pierce Brosnan. And only one Laura Holt - Stephanie Zimbalist. I think their detective show delightful; a classic! And the characters they played, charming. Laura and Remington should be resurrected before Zimbalist and Brosnan get any older. Wouldn’t it be interesting, and fun to see what happened to Laura and Steele, and what they’re doing now? How their relationship blossomed, and prevailed. Like Robin and Marian (starring Sean Connery, by the way, and Audrey Hepburn) in their later years. Only with a happy ending.
In Season 2, Episode 4 Laura says to Steele, ‘Tell me that you’ll never leave me again for my own good’. That’s a promise, says Steele.
