Billy Zane
This post was inspired by a conversation with a reader (maybe on Facebook?) about loving Billy Zane in Titanic. He’s had a few roles that real standouts to me (Dead Calm, Only You — both modern-set — as well as frock flicks Titanic and Orlando). He’s got THOSE EYELASHES. Sadly these days he seems to be mostly doing low-budget productions, although I’m glad to see he’s working. So, with a lot of B-movie stuff, here’s beautiful Billy Zane in historical flicks:
Back to the Future (1985) & Part II (1989)
As “Match,” so called because he always chewed on a match; one of villain Biff’s gang in these time travel to the 1950s classics.
Memphis Belle (1990)
As an American? lieutenant in this World War II film.
Orlando (1992)
As Orlando’s love interest in the late 19th-century segment of the film.
Posse (1993)
Per IMDB: “In 1898 Cuba, five Buffalo Soldiers find a gold cache, desert and return to America where they help defend a black town from the KKK, all the while trying to avoid capture by lawmen and military authorities alike.” Zane plays a colonel, I’m guessing a baddie.
Tombstone (1993)
As a traveling Shakespearean actor in the Western.
The Phantom (1996)
As the title character in this 1950s?-set superhero film.
This World, Then the Fireworks (1997)
Per IMDB: “In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.” Zane is one of the incestuous lovers.
Titanic (1997)
As Rose’s rich, mean fiance Cal Hockley — one of the villains in the film.
Cleopatra (1999)
As Marc Antony, Roman general and partner to the Egyptian pharaoh.
The Diamond of Jeru (2001)
A TV movie in which Americans search for diamonds in Borneo.
Vlad (2003)
Per IMDB, “Death and spiritual torment stalk three American students visiting the Carpathian mountain homeland of Vlad Tepes.”
BloodRayne (2005)
Allegedly set in the 18th century, a vampire seeks revenge.
The Last Drop (2006)
The search for Nazi gold in World War II Holland.
The Man Who Came Back (2008)
Former slaves go on strike at a plantation. Zane plays “Ezra.”
The Hessen Conspiracy (2009)
In 1945, American officers try to fence German jewels.
Barabbas (2012)
A TV movie about a man (Zane) who’s life is spared because of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Hannah’s Law (2012)
A Western about a female bounty hunter seeking revenge. I’m guessing Zane plays a baddie?
The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption (2012)
The third in a series of fantasy/horror films that are spun off from The Mummy.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2017)
A TV series about time-traveling superheroes; Zane guests in one episode as circus owner P.T. Barnum.
Holmes & Watson (2018)
Zane makes a cameo as himself when the main characters board the Titanic.
Samson (2018)
A film about the Old Testament Samson, with Zane as Philistine King Balek.
Cliffs of Freedom (2019)
A Greek village girl and a Turkish Ottoman Colonel fall in love during the Greek War for Independence (1821-29); Zane plays “Christos.”
The Great War (2019)
World War I movie.
Ghosts of War (2020)
A supernatural horror film set in France during World War II. Zane plays “Dr. Engel.”
Which is your favorite of Billy Zane’s historical roles?
for me it is also his voice. I can hear it anytime someone mentions his name. Umf.
Yuk so many war movies…none of these interest me…no wonder I only know his name.
Don’t bother watching “Cleopatra”. It was supposedly based on The Memoirs of Cleopatra, which I recommend. But once again, the movie makers turned her into just another brainless sexpot. I get enraged just thinking about it. (Being an Egyptomaniac, I clearly have issues).
Cleopatra VII was a brilliant politician who pursued her own interests and Egypt’s. Her appeal, and she apparently had plenty, lay in her well educated intelligence and her wealth and power. She may have had feelings for Caesar and Mark Anthony but the political advantage of her liaisons, for both parties, are obvious.
Thank You! Real Life Cleopatra was so much more fascinating than Hollywood’s version.
You are absolutely right, Cleopatra’s costume looks BAD. The shape isn’t hopeless but the fabric is obviously modern, lame? And the dangle earrings are Too Much. In fact it is questionable whether Cleopatra VII ever worn egyptian costume in RL as opposed to conventialized reliefs on temples. Culturally she was very Greek though she reached out to the native population more than any of her predecessors.
Memphis Belle is my favorite BZ movie — and the first time I noticed him. He looks SO good in that WWII era US Army uniform!!! (across multiple movies, apparently)
Oh my goodness, teenage me had a crush on Billy Zane in Memphis Belle, he was so beautiful. He never seems to play sympathetic characters, it seems, must be that saturnine look. I’m with you – Rose was crazy: Cal was a million times hotter than Jack.
I agree with you. I have a weakness for dark and sultry men and never was attracted to de Caprio.
I am convinced re the moustache as my Uncle Louis had one just like it during the 1940’s. CF – https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/42505084/person/19792562564/media/e12434a4-f0ea-4e0e-9dd3-76d2a54ef8d0?_phsrc=suf1652&usePUBJs=true
Gosh, he doesn’t half look like Marlon Brando when he’s bald and not necessarily in a good way
He leaves me cold, and I thought casting him in “Orlando” was an attempt to make the film more appealing to American audiences.
He looks really good with a beard. I’ll always be niffed that they cut the scene in Titanic when he was looking for Rose after they were rescued. It gave his character a little more depth and sympathy.
Ok, before commenting on his Frock Flicks, I gotta say that I squealed when Kendra mentioned Only You in the intro to this post. That is one of my favorite “modern” romance movies, and I feel it is criminally underrated and unknown. Billy Zane’s role was so much fun!! OK, back to Billy Zane’s Frock Flicks…I’m one of twenty people who saw The Phantom when it came out and one of ten who really enjoyed it (along with the other “old-fashioned” movies of the time The Rocketeer and The Shadow). I’m tempted to say that one’s my favorite–but Titanic and Tombstone are just so much better movies overall. So…it’s hard to pick a favorite for this MCM. He’s still swoon-worthy and there’s so much here to see. Timothy Dalton as Caesar (I presume) looks like reason enough to watch Cleopatra. (Is just me, or is anyone else getting Alicia Keys vibes from the actress who plays Cleopatra? I know she isn’t Alicia Keys.) And the costumes for Samson look hilarious–like something for a school or church play!! Thanks for this MCM!
Oh, and The Phantom is set in the late 30s not the 50s. Probably prompted by your Titanic post, a while ago I watched an analysis on YouTube called “The Phantom Retrospective” by Midnight’s Edge in which the setting was revealed to be 1938. It’s definitely not a movie for everyone–one reason why it was an abysmal box office failure. Poor Billy!
Also, thank you for linking to “the V and wines” article! I say “amen” and “hallelujah” to the whole thing! Ok, I’m going to stop replying to this MCM post!
I love “Only You” also. So glad to find another fan. I get lots of flack about it.
A sort of explanation for Bloodrayne: (emphasis on explanation, not excuse) it’s based on a sort of mid-range early 2000s third person shooter game. It was also directed by Uwe Boll, who is infamous for making shitty movie adaptations of video games.
He is soooo hot in Titanic. I can’t even.
I named one of my cats after his character in Orlando: Shelmerdine. That’s how much I loved him back in the 90s. And when did I fall in love with him? Three words. John. Justice. Wheeler.
The V and the wines link had me dying. Hahahahahaha. 😂