Mr. Crouch's death (Was: Getting it right in the films)

[stephab67]

Lizzie Mae Lilly wrote:
And when in the books did Prof. Snape ever hit a student?  Verbal 
abuse aplenty but *never* physical.  The closest he ever came was the 
thrown jar of cockroaches after he pulled Harry out of the pensieve.  
Of course, that gave Yates approval to have Snape hit Ron in OotP!!

Carol responds:
 
I read somewhere that Yates was making Snape act like a real English
boarding school teacher (probably a reference to his own childhood,
before any recent laws against corporal punishment were enacted).
 
Snippety-snip

But you're right. Snape not only doesn't resort to hitting students on
the head with books, he has no need. If one of his stares isn't
sufficient to quell a student, there's always sarcasm, point-docking,
or detention. The scene may have added a bit of comedy (the audience
liked it), but it was OoC for Snape.

Steph:
I do have to admit that I was one of those who found it funny, maybe
because I'm a high school teacher and sympathized with Snape.  I have
perfected the stare, though.  Every teacher needs the stare.  It
works, unlike yelling. You're right, though, it's definitely OOC.

Regarding the head smacking, though, Rupert's sure a trooper, isn't
he?  He gets a broom handle in the face in SS, dragged by a dog in
PoA, gets multiple smacks on the head from Alan Rickman, and has to
wear some of the worst costumes in the series (Weasley sweaters, the
one he wears in the MoM fight, the horrible dress robes and frilly
shirt in GoF, etc.). I laugh every time I see those scenes. Of course
they wouldn't be as funny if he wasn't so good in them.  He just gets
better and better with every film.  As have Dan and Emma.