Drawn State

Top 10 Fictional Architects in Film and TV

April 22nd, 2009

By Dan Stewart

1. Howard Roark, The Fountainhead (1949)

Howard Roark, the lead character of Ayn Rand’s novel, remains a hero to architects for his refusal to compromise his artistic vision or give up his ideas to others. As played by Gary Cooper in the film, Roarke is an embodiment of manly integrity with a dash of Hollywood glamour. “I am an architect,” says the stout defender of the profession in the film’s closing scenes. “My ideas are my property.” You can practically hear a generation of architects weep. FAT’s Sam Jacob has a closer reading of the film here.

 

2. Doug Roberts, The Towering Inferno (1974)

The implicit hubris of designing skyscrapers comes under fire in this disaster classic, no doubt inspired by the construction of the World Trade Centre (1972) and Sears Tower (1973). “Architects,” sneers the fire chief to architect Paul Newman. “You know there’s no sure way for us to fight a fire in anything over the seventh floor, but you guys just keep building ‘em as high as you can.” Of course, it’s the developer cutting costs that causes the fire, but we’re left in no doubt by the writers as to what the building represents: “A shrine to all the bullshit in the world”.

 

3. John Baxter, Don’t Look Now (1973)

The architecture of Venice is essentially one of the main characters in Nic Roeg’s horror classic, with the crumbling vaults and grimy canals adding to the film’s powerful atmosphere of decay. John Baxter, Donald Sutherland’s character, is in Venice to restore a church while he and his wife try to overcome the death of their child. A sceptic, Baxter as architect represents the cold, functional side of the human psyche while his wife, played by Julie Christie, is the credulous spiritualist side. Then a killer dwarf enters the frame and the metaphor breaks down somewhat.  

 

4. Anna, Paperhouse (1988)

Charlotte Burke’s character in this little-known psychological art film is not technically an architect, but the film has such an architectural premise it is a surprise it isn’t more popular. Anna, a sickly 10-year-old girl, draws a house in a childish scrawl only to find herself visiting it in her feverish dreams. The production design recreates the disjointed, uneven sketch of the house to chilling effect. I can imagine architects having dreams like this themselves. You can’t currently get it on DVD but unbelievably someone has uploaded it to YouTube.

 

5. David Murphy, Indecent Proposal (1993)

What kind of a man would be immoral enough to auction off a night with his wife for £1m? Why, an architect of course, and – as played by Woody Harrelson – one so down on his luck that he is forced into a job as a (whisper it) lecturer. How humiliating! Few architects’ wives look like Demi Moore of course, but given the opportunity I wonder how many of today’s cash-strapped practice directors would turn down Robert Redford’s offer?

 

6. Sandy, Breaking and Entering (2006)

Freeman’s character runs an architecture practice in this Anthony Minghella offering with one played by Jude Law. Now, I’m sure plenty of latte-bearing architects would like to think the handsome Mr Law is exactly the right person to represent their profession on celluloid, but actually Mr Freeman’s character is the architect on this list most true to life. Bearded, overweight and neurotic, he is everything a hundred senior partners are, and more.

 

7. “Frank Gehry”, The Simpsons 

Of course, FOG is a real person, but he voiced a fictional version of himself on America’s longest-running sitcom to hilarious effect (”Frank Gehry, you’ve done it again!”). Not only did he make fun of himself – witness his inspiration from a piece of scrumpled-up paper – but he made fun of his buildings, in this case, a concert hall which is converted to a prison. Say what you like about Gehry, but I can’t imagine Norman Foster appearing on Gavin and Stacey.  

 

8. Michael Newman, Click (2006)

Click screenwriter Steve Koren explained to the San Fransisco Chronicle why Adam Sandler’s character is an architect in this remote-control-allows-user-to-control-time comedy: “You’re not even looking to get that deep with the profession. You’re just looking for a job for your leading man. “Architect” has a positive spin. I mean Mr. Brady from ‘The Brady Bunch’ was an architect.” Enough said.

 

9. Healy/Tucker, There’s Something About Mary (1998)

The fact that not one but two characters – played by Matt Dillon and Lee Evans –  pretend to be an architect to impress a girl in this lewd comedy surely proves that the reason architecture is such a popular profession in the US is not because of its creative potential but for its opportunities to get laid. Which brings us neatly to…

 

10. Art Vanderlay, Seinfeld

Seasoned Seinfeld aficionados will know that Art Vanderlay is the character George Costanza’s fictional alter-ego, who works in “imports… exports… architecture”. George too thinks the profession attracts the ladies. “You know I always wanted to pretend to be an architect!” cries George when he realises Jerry has told a date he is a marine biologist (He isn’t one of those either). Even now, ten years after the sitcom finished, you can buy a “Vandelay Industries” T-shirt. But for the best Seinfeld clip about architecture, watch this:

 

Constanza on Architecture 

 

On the shortlist: Tom Selleck in Three Men and a Baby; Keanu Reeves in The Lakehouse; Matthew Perry in Fools Rush In; Luke Wilson in My Super Ex-Girlfriend and of course Brad Pitt in real life.

 

Did I miss any? Let me know.

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