MovieChat Forums > By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1954) Discussion > She was 18 and he was 20 years old?!?!

She was 18 and he was 20 years old?!?!

posted 16 years ago by vrystrangeman
12 replies | jump to latest

Saw this movie for the first time last night and I loved it. I thought it was hilarious that Marjorie and Bill are supposed to be 18 and 20 years old, respectively. Now I've just found out that Doris was 31 and Gordon 32 years old when the film was made! If this film was made today do you think they'd cast actors ten years older than the age of their characters? They might have been able to get away with it because of the style of shooting and maybe because of the lower resolution cameras had back then. What do you guys think?

[–] spike71 16 years ago

I think they'd have to go with younger actors because the goal today is to look older and more mature. I suppose if you used someone like Reese Witherspoon with a cute young face, you wouldn't need someone just past their teen years.

By the way - who would you cast as Marjorie and Bill? I'd go with Reese Witherspoon. Not sure who'd I'd pick for Bill.

Be sure to see On Moonlight Bay. It's the "prequel" and it was also a great movie

[–] deaves 15 years ago

I agree with Reese Witherspoon, how about Paul Rudd as Bill? Very under rated I think, and still having the 'boy next door' looks??

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Xcalat3 15 years ago

age fail

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] jmcl1970 14 years ago

Film and theatre is about suspension of disbelief. Actors considerably older than their roles are still cast all the time--there is a 25 year old playing a 15 year old on Disney Channel now. The principals in the film of Rent were all 10 years older than their characters (though they were close to the right ages when they originated the roles on Broadway). I don't see this as a problem. As for casting today, I can't think of any "name" stars in film who can actually sing. Reese Witherspoon playing a Doris Day role? Travesty.

[–] duesouth1420 14 years ago

I would go with Betty White and Andy Griffith.

[–] HoferPM-1 13 years ago

That's a good one ! I can't think of any actors to play these roles today.

[–] cmashieldscapting 13 years ago

Rosemary DeCamp was actually pretty close to the age she was playing. In 1953 she was 43 years old and her character was 38 years old. (Both way too young to be Doris Day's mother.)

[–] bari2525 10 years ago

Not to out too fine a point on the age thing, but Doris Day was only 28 when the movie was being made. She didn't turn 29 until AFTER the film was released in the US...

Now...I know there was some discussion for a time about her real birth date, but 1924 IS accurate, according to all sources.

All that aside, it wasn't uncommon (and still isn't), for actors to portray characters who vary from their own age by several years.

I don't act...I react. John Wayne

[–] Clothes-Off 10 years ago

Yes, they would probably still be casting actors that age. It's been going on for years, and doesn't show any signs of stopping. I still recall seeing a movie called Reckless[ starring Daryl Hannah and Aidan Quinn as high schoolers, when both had to be in their mid-twenties--and looked it. But since they were hot and got naked, I didn't mind.

Gabrielle Carteris was 30 at the beginning of Beverly Hills, 90210, just five years younger than James Eckhouse, who played the main characters' father.

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] fugazzi49 10 years ago

It's a Doris Day and Gordon MacRae musical. That's who we came to see, that's who we want to see. The ages aren't mentioned much and are never an issue within the script. Whatever Booth Tarkington wrote, it is not necessary to follow it to the letter. You make a mental adjustment and enjoy it.

[–] marktayloruk (2378) 3 years ago

Remember Grease!