One of my readers commented on a post and asked the rhetoric question, “What is it about a man in uniform?”
Now, this is a question that we were all asked in our interviews, and my answer was, “A man (or woman) who chooses this as a profession has to have a sense of pride and commitment. These are jobs that can get you killed, and to do that on a daily basis is an amazing thing.
How could a man who cares so deeply about protecting others NOT be a great romantic character? If he is willing to put his life on the line for total strangers, imagine what he would do for the woman that he loves. The possibilities are endless.”
As I was answering the question, however, I thought about the image that we have in our heads of these men and how when we read, our mind paints that picture for us. And those images come mainly from what we get out of Hollywood. How many of us swooned during the volleyball scene in Top Gun? The perfect bodies on the beach with the dog tags swinging and the aviator shades…
Or when we picture a Navy man, it’s Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman (which by the way, was on Oprah’s new network this morning. Is that an omen or what??) How about police? Do you picture Will Smith from Bad Boys (or if you are a child of the 80s – Don Johnson on Miami Vice)? Or is it a still amazing looking Tom Selleck in Blue Bloods?
What we visualize makes such a difference in how we read a story and for so many of us Hollywood has put those images in our head. So, I’m wondering when you think of a man in uniform, who comes to mind? (And no fair if you are lucky enough to be married to one of these heros… I’m wondering in the world of Hollywood who you think of when you think, HOT UNIFORMED MAN??
I will go first. Now, I don’t know how many of you will know this one, but I have a weakness for David Keith (he would be the poor sucker in Officer and a Gentleman who got played and then couldn’t go on), and David Keith in a uniform sends me over the edge! He not only wore a uniform in Officer and a Gentleman, but also in the late 90s he was a cop in a TV show called High Incident. BUT, my favorite is in the 1983 movie Lords of Discipline, based on the book by Pat Conroy. The story centers around a southern military academy, so it’s an entire movie of men in uniform! While it isn’t really a romance, it builds on the integrity and the honor that a soldier needs to have in a world that tries to bring him down.
Now it’s your turn…who is it that you picture? Remember comments get you in the pool for a signed copy of Indivisible!
Bonus points and maybe a little treat if anyone knows what movie Tom Cruise’s first real big role (more than two lines) was where he was in uniform??
I know you have already mentioned Tom Selleck,, but I would still have to go with him, (unless I can think of someone else later), I make sure to tape Blue Bloods just to see him every Friday night
I agree wholeheartedly with your feelings on the reason behind our love of men in uniform. It’s not about the starched shirts or the metals pinned to a lapel. It’s about the level of character and courage it takes to wear that uniform and everything that translates to throughout life. Thanks for the post, Jessica!
Jen
Okay, since my cop hubby is out of the running and I have to choose someone else to play a cop, I’d go with Matt Damon’s as he plays the Jason Bourne character. He has that look. The one that goes past what everyone else sees and assesses a situation for danger.
Unfortunately for me, I don’t watch much cop themed television as my husband is always yelling at the TV about some procedure that was ignored, safety that was messed up and scenes that are impossibly inaccurate. He ruined all the CSI-type shows for me, too. But, we are liking Timothy Olyphant in Justified. He’s cocky, stubborn and skilled- the way I love cops to be.
Ohhh…two law enforcement lovers! I will have to think about my favorite cop type?
Yeah Matt Damon in the Bourne series (and he qualifies because he was special forces before he became Jason Bourne)
What’s funny is that even from a young age I had a thing for men in uniforms. Loved the blond on Adam 12 and Randy Mantooth on Emergency! HAHA!!
Tom Cruise in Top Gun was one of my all time favorite movies! When I think of a hot uniformed man, my guy never wears one, but plays a cop on TV and it’s Alex O’Loughlin who by the way is a former SEAL on the series.
I may or may not have actually yelled something totally inappropriate like, “I want to have your children” during Top Gun…that’s all I’m going to say!
LOL Jessica!! Were you jumping on the couch when you said it? 😉