In the book, Philip Ashley is a young man of 24. Burton was only a few years older, but he doesn't look 24. His performance was too polished to make him credible as Philip, who was very inexperienced and naive.
shareHow old is De Havilland´s character in the book? They couldn´t cast somebody much younger than Burton costarring with De Havilland who is quite older than Burton in the movie. If he was younger, it wouldn´t be credible for him to fall so madly in love with her.
It doesn't actually say in the book, but Louise (character in both book & movie) estimates her age at about 35).
shareBurton was 26 (age appropriate to play 25 year-old Philip Ashley), and de Havilland was 36 (the right age for Rachel). I think both were perfectly suited to their roles--Rachel was supposed to be older and more mature in her ways than Philip.
Burton deservedly won a Supporting Role Oscar nomination for his role.
Garbo would have been all wrong at approximately 47. She was first choice to play Rachel but turned it down at the last moment...so did Vivien Leigh who was four years older than Olivia. But I think Burton and de Havilland were excellent choices.
i think the casting was spot on (as they say in the u.k.)
burton only seems older (and more polished), maybe, because you're seeing his character in this film thru the prism of everything else you've ever seen him in. but, since he's not much older than the du maurier character (and, given the chemistry between he and de havilland), it seems perfectly believable that he's "lose his head" over rachel.
and, of course, de havilland always had that certain something that she brought to any role that'd make you believe that a headstrong, foolhardy young man like philip would do the things he does.
gregory 051607
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Mr. Burton was perfect. He was the best thing in the movie, and he looked very young. Hell, I was surprised when I saw how young and fresh he looked here... and I think this is the only movie I've seen him in where he says no thanks to a drink!
#15
Martin Scorsese IS the best
I agree that Richard Burton was perfect for this role and completely convincing (I had only seen one of his films before watching this one). He was so convincing I wanted to yell at Philip to not be blinded by his feelings for Rachel.
It's silly for people to gripe about Burton's age in this since he was roughly the same age as the character.
Mag, Darling, you're being a bore.
I am inclined to agree. The actors looked as if they were both near the same age, which put a dent in the credibility of the age difference relationship for me.
"Sleep is for sissies."
House
That makes no sense. 35 is not old, and a woman at that age, especially if she's beautiful, can be very alluring to younger men. Olivia did look older than Richard Burton but she was still 'young'. This was one of the few film adaptations where the actors were the same age in real life as the characters in the book.
shareit makes no sense to us in the modern age but even 100 years ago, a woman was considered practically middle aged in her mid to late 30s
You're absolutely right. When I was twenty-five, women in their thirties were exotic, mysterious, and extremely alluring to me. I had a strong MILF fixation. Many young men are very attracted to women who are older and more experienced than they are.
sharetaylorje says > Burton was only a few years older, but he doesn't look 24. His performance was too polished to make him credible as Philip, who was very inexperienced and naive.I think Burton did a great job in the role; there's no question, but I can also understand why you might think he was too old to play Philip. Burton exudes maturity and confidence while most people see Philip as naive and gullible.
24 and 26 (Burton's age at the time) is about the same age, but, Burton seemed a little too brooding, to play such a naive character.
shareDe Havilland kept mentioning how he was young, naive and not a strong man. Burton seems very much a strong man. He was good in this but not really the right actor for the role.
shareburton's character was upper class english, not a guy working in the fields. obviously, he was going to be polished.
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