ABSTRACT
The Imperial hero figure conforms to a definite physical and spiritual archetype. He is tall, thin, square-jawed, keen-eyed and almost always equipped with pipe and moustache. One only has to look at the screen appearances of Ronald Colman, greatest of Imperial actors, to notice the difference the moustache makes. R. J. Minney has called Colman's moustache part of 'the architecture of that well-known face' and he recalls a conversation he had with Colman about whether or not he should shave it off to play Clive of India. Minney, although he was co-author of the screenplay, argued that he should not because it would confuse and upset his audience, who were accustomed, conditioned even, to seeing him with it. But Colman was persuaded to sacrifice the moustache in the interests of historical authenticity by Hugh Walpole. The moustache was one of the badges of the Imperialist.
