Ronan Vibert, Vibertology, Shadow of the Vampire, Izzard, Malkovitch

Ronan content:

The most notable thing about Ronan's character is that he has very few lines, yet is on screen for nearly a quarter of the movie.
As discussed earlier (especially in Rowing with the Wind), Ronan is one of the few actors able to convey his relationship with other characters as well by non-verbal means as verbally, while still remaining interesting and memorable to watch.

He is superb at reacting to other actors, never looking like he's waiting to say his lines, and always holding audience attention by moving bodily or facially in character.


	Two of the most memorable scenes for observing this are the first scene with Izzard, who informs them of the mysterious mad method actor due to join them, and in the crew/cast dinner at the Inn of the Fool. In the former scene, he gives wry bemusement, and professional impatience at being excluded from the principal shooting of Shreck that Murnau has already completed. In the latter scene, he establishes a relationship with the make-up girl, crew camaraderie, and cynical yet resigned patience with Murnau's dictatorship.


	Trainspotter comments: Filmed in Luxembourg, nearly entirely on location, in 35 days French version 2 minutes longer, Oz version 1 minute longer than UK/US versions Originally known as Burned to Light Was contact with the Czech Merhige made during Pimpernel's long shoots? Vibert, Eddie Izzard, and Cary Elwes went on to make *The Cat's Meow* together a year later (*click* to see a long list of recurring co-stars) According to the *Liquid News* interview text banner, Malkovitch is a known admirer of Vibert's acting When plugging *Antarctica* on Gloria Hunniford's *Open House* (*which I need desperately), Vibert apparently did a very funny, very accurate Malkovitch impression (a lot of Robespierre's speech patters in Pimpernel* are very Malkovitchesque).


	The interaction with the female crew members is worth commenting on as it is done so subtly: both the script and make-up girls can be seen wearing the same kind of red-drop necklaces and ear-rings (gifts from Wolfgang?), and both repeatedly meet his gaze, both showing concern at his irrational and sudden illness when shooting Izzard's nightshirt scene. When Wolfgang is replaced by the dashing OTT Elwes character, both girls switch their affections immediately.


	*Back Shadow of the Vampire* *Back Gimme Gimme Gimme* *Back Summerfolk: audio* *Back Scarlet Pimpernel Series 2* *Back MrsBradleyMysteries* *Next Princess & the Pea: audio* *Next Jaguar Advertising Campaign* *NextAntarctica* *VIBERTOGRAPHY*


	Wolfgang is a cinematographer utterly dedicated to his craft: when the crew first find him collapsed and shaking, in a near-catatonic state on the floor of Shreck's ruined castle, the only words to escape his lips after being berated by Murnau for being 'theatrical' are a whispered request for his precious cameras to be brought straight to his room. When Shreck attacks him for the final time, leaving him speechless, catatonic, and near death, Malkovitch simply pulls Vibert up, shouting "Herr Mueller, when will you have your equipment ready? I am tired of your lack of enthusiasm!". *Wolfgang's expression of betrayed, hurt, and shocked disbelief at the inhumane reprimand soon crumbles into utter fear*, with Vibert shaking in a sweaty terror-induced fever as he is spirited away from the crew and his beloved cameras.


	When Vibert leaves, the film swings much further into black comedy, with Elwes' caddish cameraman lightening the tone. As much as I love Elwes' acting (another criminally underused actor, bar the perfection of The Princess Bride), his performance is a little too rambunctious and detracts from the tension. Still, the film is a worthy addition to the sub-genre, along with Gods and Monsters and Ed Wood (and, hopefully, the forthcoming Izzard-Vibert-Elwes *The Cat's Meow*).