When I saw the name William Holden, I thought it was the popular Holden who was in many films in the 40s, and 50s. He was in Picnic, among others, but the one in this movie wasn't him. Surprised to see two actors with the same name.
shareThere have been several actors with the same name in different eras, perhaps the best example is Harrison Ford which was the name of a quite popular silent star as well as the current movie star. There was briefly a woman in films named Doris Day in the early 1940's before the actress we know by that name came along. And incredibly, there was another Asian actress using the name Anna May Wong in the late 1950's/early 1960's when the famous actress was still working herself!
The first William Holden was a character actor who died in 1932, I don't think he was particularly famous so there was no need for the second William Holden to change his name. It is interesting that both Holdens worked with Swanson (and the first one was also in her lost talkie WHAT A WIDOW).
Yes very true and that will cause confusion for new students of old cinema history (it confused me way back)
There was also another William Boyd around the same time the Hopalong Cassidy actor was coming up. he was known as William "Stage" Boyd and was in silent and early talkies and also died in 1932.