MovieChat Forums > You Can't Take It with You (1938) Discussion > Spring Byington as Lionel Barrymore's - ...

Spring Byington as Lionel Barrymore's - daughter?

posted 12 years ago by romarub
5 replies | jump to latest

It's hard for me to swallow Spring Byington (born 1886) as Lionel Barrymore's daughter (born 1878). They just look too close in age for Lionel to be Spring's parent! I at first attributed my conclusion to my having been introduced to an older Spring Byington on TV in the 1950's, but she definitely does look younger in this film (of course). But so does Lionel appear quite "young" in this film compared to his films of the 40's and '50s. Forget that they were only 8 years of age apart in real life. Does anyone else have a problem in accepting Lionel as Spring's father in this film, based upon the look of the two before the camera, without regard to their actual (though relatively small) age difference?

[–] bradford-1 12 years ago

Are you able to accept Angela Lansbury as Laurence Harvey's mother in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE? Or Jessie Royce Landis as Cary Grant's mother in NORTH BY NORTHWEST? After my initial WTF?? in YOU CAN'T, I was willing to accept Byington as Barrymore's daughter.

"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"

[–] romarub 12 years ago

I accepted Angela Lansbury as Laurence Harvey's mother, without any question. Same for Jessie Royce Landis as Cary Grant's mom in NBNW. But Spring just looks too old to be Barrymore's daughter. As siblings, yes. As child and parent, no. Just my personal observation.

[–] PillowRock 12 years ago

For me, the father - daughter relationship here is easier to swallow than the mother - son relationship in NxNW.

Heck, I found this one easier to swallow than the Hamlet - Gertrude relationship in the Mel Gibson version of Hamlet (with Glenn Close as Gibson's mother). Let's not even think too much about the Olivier version of Hamlet, where the actress playing Gertrude was actually 10 or 11 years younger than Olivier.

[–] ljspin 12 years ago

I did not have a problem accepting Spring Byington as Lionel Barrymore's daughter. I may be basing my acceptance on more than just appearance. Spring Byington speaks with a sweet, young-sounding voice; Lionel Barrymore's distinctive voice sounds, at least to me, older. Lionel Barrymore was crippled up with arthritis at this time and his movements were limited, while Spring Byington moved about easily. Their body language and movements suggested age and youth respectively.

However, please accept this as my own observation. Other viewers will, of course, have different interpretations, and they are just as valid.

[–] JelenaG890 8 years ago

I don't have an issue with it- Spring Byington had a youthful-sounding voice and looked good for her age.

While we're talking about cast and age differences, let me just add that Samuel S. Hinds, who played Spring Byington's husband Paul, was born in 1875 making him 3 years older than Barrymore, who played his father-in-law.