So…I got into a little debate with someone yesterday on the topic of chemistry.
No, we weren’t arguing over my math skills. This had to do with the chemical reaction between personalities. Specifically, why some people have chemistry together and some people don’t. We were talking about films, but I’ve noticed it holds true in real life as well. Some pairings create that spark, and some pairings don’t.
Classic example: Tracy and Hepburn — snap, crackle, and pop.
Of course Tracy and Heburn loved each other, so what explains William Powell and Myrna Loy who had ever bit as much chemisty, but were never romantically involved?
The interesting thing about chemistry is that it isn’t necessarily based on friendship or love. I personally don’t think Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward ever had a lot of on-screen chemistry. Newman and Robert Redford…yes.
Liking and respect are vital to all kinds of things…but they aren’t necessary for creating chemistry. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, for example, had terrific chemistry, but apparently couldn’t stand each other.
In fact, sometimes people who don’t like each other have more chemistry than people who do — this happens a lot in books where the male and female protag frequently start out not liking each other. To put it mildly. Personally, in real life, I haven’t noticed myself moving from loathing to love on many occasions. Maybe I’ve forgotten.
Can actors have chemistry if the characters they play are not strongly written? Is chemistry about the characters or about the people? Can characters in books have chemistry or are they simply well-written characters? I ask because certain characters really click for readers, really stand out among other well-written characters. Why? What do those characters have that others don’t?
So what exactly is chemistry? How would you define it? And what actors or characters do you think have a lot of chemistry?
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I’ve always looked at chemistry as that spark that allows people to play off each other. It’s not necessarily positive. People in the midst of a heated debate (as opposed to a screaming argument) could be said to have chemistry. Volatile chemistry to be sure, but if they didn’t have something that connected on at least some level they probably wouldn’t care too much about the other person.
Of course, some people are just psycho (e.g every one of my exes - I, however, am perfectly sane), so take that theory with a big ol’ salt lick.
And actors who have it? Bogart and Bacall. Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. Come to think of it, Cary Grant and just about anyone.
by Stephen Blackmoore on December 10th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
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Wow, chemistry. I can recite a bunch of pairs that have/had it, and not necessarily male/female.
Jackie Chan seems to have chemistry with most people, Owen Wilson and Chris Tucker, for two. Just watch Shanghai noon.knights or any of the Rush Hour movies.
Funny thing is, Harrison Ford is one of the dryest personalities in real life, and he had great chemistry with Karen Allen in the first Indian Jones movie.
On the flip side, Angilina Jolie and Brad Pitt, I thought, had terrible chemistry in Mr. and Mrs Smith. In fact, I’m not sure she had good chemistry with anyone.
I don’t think chemistry can be pinned down to one thing. It’s a combination of good writing and personality.
Of course, in a book, the author has to creat both, good writing and the personality.
by Will Bereswill on December 10th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
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Come to think of it, Cary Grant and just about anyone.
Good thought. Certain people — personalities — do seem to…er…conduct…chemistry better than others.
by Diana Killian on December 10th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
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Funny thing is, Harrison Ford is one of the dryest personalities in real life, and he had great chemistry with Karen Allen in the first Indian Jones movie.
Very interesting point! Chemistry on screen doesn’t necessarily have to do with real life character. Hmmm…
by Diana Killian on December 10th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
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For me it has to do with whether or not I like the character. I read The Bridges of Madison County before I saw the movie. I had it pictured with Robert Redford in the lead. When I saw the movie, I was so disappointed. I love Clint Eastwood in every movie I’ve ever seen him in, but to me he just did not fit with Francesca because I had her pictured in my mind with Robert Redford. So I guess for me it can also be a visual thing.
by Tricia S. on December 10th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
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Moonlighting - Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepard (I think), Remington Steele. The main characters on Bones. But I think a lot of the reason I like Bones is the writing.
Tricia, I totally agree with you about Clint Eastwood in Bridges. But I also thought any movie he did with that one actress he was sleeping with was horrible. The two of them had no chemistry at all. I can’t think of any of the names but one or two had a monkey in it.
Star Wars with Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. But you never felt the Chemistry with her and Luke. Is that because we knew on some level they were related?
by Lynn on December 10th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
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So I guess for me it can also be a visual thing.
That’s one of the dangers of cover art — and even describing characters in books. It’s funny how you form a certain picture of characters, and anything that jars that picture is annoying — even disruptive to the story.
by Diana Killian on December 10th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
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Star Wars with Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. But you never felt the Chemistry with her and Luke. Is that because we knew on some level they were related?
Now there was a tricky plot device! I remember being staunchly pro-Luke, and quite troubled that Leia seemed to be leaning toward Han Solo. Looking back, all the clues were there, I guess, I just liked Luke better!
by Diana Killian on December 10th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
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Diana,
Now see that proves I have always been drawn to the dark side so to say. I liked Hans because he was a bad boy.
Not going any farther with that. 
by Lynn on December 11th, 2007 at 7:44 am
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—–Funny thing is, Harrison Ford is one of the dryest personalities in real life, and he had great chemistry with Karen Allen in the first Indian Jones movie.—-
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve had a chance to post on anything current. I am usually catching up on the blog a week at a time, but I thought this a very interesting post and, since I’m on time today….
I think Harrison Ford has good chemistry with every actress/actor in the movies I’ve seen. In 6 days/7 nights, I thought he and Anne Heche sizzled, even though at the time, she thought she was a lesbian (weird casting, that). And, I just finally saw Firewall, and he and Paul Bettany really sparked, in that negative chemistry way. And those are just two examples I can think of off the top of my head.
I also agree with Will - Angelina Jolie has as much on-screen chemistry as year-old baking soda. Blech. I think Brad Pitt is a pretty good actor in lighter comedy (I will admit to never seeing him in the heavier period pieces, cuz I just don’t go for that), but I think he’s mostly two-dimensional, too. If Jolie and Pitt weren’t so pretty, they’d both be long forgotten. He and Clooney were great in Ocean’s 11, but I haven’t liked him in anything else and I think the greatness of Ocean’s 11 was a product of writing/ensemble cast more than anything else. I didn’t like Ocean’s 12 nearly as much, but the jury’s out on 13 - I haven’t seen it yet.
I think Colin Firth is also one of those “conductors”, Diana. He sparks in anything I’ve seen him in, with anybody.
For written characters, I think Amelia Peabody and Radcliff Emerson are two of the best-written characters for chemistry ever. Not so much Ramses and Nefret (dodging lightening bolt) although I like Peter’s portrayal of their marriage and subsequent relationship - it was tempered.
Laura Phelps
by The Other Laura on December 11th, 2007 at 9:45 am
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For written characters, I think Amelia Peabody and Radcliff Emerson are
two of the best-written characters for chemistry ever. Not so much
Ramses and Nefret (dodging lightening bolt) although I like Peter’s
portrayal of their marriage and subsequent relationship - it was tempered.
I’d have to agree with that on both counts! It always bothered me that I just couldn’t get more excited about Nefret and Ramses — I think it’s her more than him.
Laura Phelps
by Diana Killian on December 11th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
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Not going any farther with that
Since bloody WHEN?
by Diana Killian on December 11th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
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Since bloody WHEN?
OMG. Thanks for the laugh. No wonder I write. I have too many stories. I’m still trying to figure out a way to turn one of these experiences of mine into a true story so that I can at least make money off my bad judgement.
Giggle.
by Lynn on December 12th, 2007 at 7:54 am
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