Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I was researching this stuff several months ago, and I think I forgot to post most of it. At least, a search didn't turn it up...

I found it interesting that Elizabeth Montgomery (b. 4/15/33) and Fritz Weaver (b. 1/19/26) were so close in age. There's only a little over seven years separating them. That makes the incest angle in the film a little less yucky -- or maybe not. Katherine Helmond (b. 7/5/28) was even closer to Weaver's age -- only about 2-1/2 years younger. Helen Craig (Abby) apparently kept her age a secret. She debuted on the NY stage in 1936, so she may have been born ca. 1916, making her about ten years older than Weaver. Her "secret" is that she was married to John Beal (b. 8/13/09), who played Dr. Bowen In "Legend." I wouldn't have guessed that "Dr. Bowen" was nearly old enough to be "Andrew's" father. Wonderful what makeup can do!

I knew that Craig and Beal were wed, but I'd never thought to compare ages! That reminds me of the wonderful actress Jessie Royce Landis, nearly a year younger than Cary Grant, playing his matronly mother in North by Northwest!

That's pretty cool you guys- thanks!

The Landis-Grant story probably illustrates what actresses complain about. An actor over 50 is "interesting," while an actress that age is an "old bag"! I have, nowever, noted a hopeful trend toward having younger, more attractive actresses portray mothers. It used to be that anyone who took the role of a mother was absolutely doddering and would in real life have been 'way too old to have given birth to those particular offspring.

Edisto @ Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:32 am wrote:The Landis-Grant story probably illustrates what actresses complain about. An actor over 50 is "interesting," while an actress that age is an "old bag"! I have, nowever, noted a hopeful trend toward having younger, more attractive actresses portray mothers. It used to be that anyone who took the role of a mother was absolutely doddering and would in real life have been 'way too old to have given birth to those particular offspring.

True. So very true. I have always noticed myself that actresses that portrayed mothers often looked more like a grandmother, in older films. Patricia Neal in The Day The Earth Stood Still was an exception. She looked motherly but not "over the hill and picking up speed."

"Oh, I see you have your grandmother with you, sonny."
"My grandmother?!? She's my mom!"

As far as the age of actors, an actress who portrayed Susan Hayward's mother in a film was actually several years younger than Susan Hayward.

When the director of Cleopatra asked Susan Hayward to play Cleopatra Susan said: "You need glasses! I'm 43 years old!" He got a much younger Elizabeth Taylor. Susan looked good at 43. She looked good at any age.

On the flip side, many actors look old enough to be the grandfather of the actress playing his daughter. I thought Elizabeth Montgomery did a fine job of playing Lizzie. And that music at the beginning of the film kills me! It's so perfect. I recorded that film onto VHS and watch it now and then.

-1bigsteve (o:

Don't forget the legendary Anne Bancroft (b. 1931) and Dustin Hoffman (b. 1937) in The Graduate (1967).

She was 36 and he was 30. Hardly an age difference that would matter were it not a pretend older woman!

It's amazing how actors can make you believe they are younger or older than they are just by the way they talk, move, walk even without much of a change in makeup. I guess that is one reason they make mega bucks.

I never saw The Graduate and don't want to but I have always liked Anne Bancroft in other roles she has done, The Elephant Man and The Turning Point. Too bad she is gone. I'm not crazy about Dustin Hoffman but he is good. I liked him in Little Big Man.

I always had the impression, from looking at the photo of Andrew Borden, that he was a dour, crotchety man who probably never smiled or laughed. The actor who portayed him put too much life into the character, in my view. I can't see Andrew Borden being that lively. But we can't judge someone by their Photo. Life was hard in those days.

-1bigsteve (o:

Steve...RENT THE GRADUATE. It's a classic. So MANY great lines and moments. I highly reccommend it. A bowl of popcorn...and a couple hours of your time...what could it hurt ?


Tracy...

I second that suggestion! What a wonderful movie, full of wonderful music. I LOVE hoffman, and even when he makes a "bad" movie, he is great in it. You can always depend on him to shine. Bancroft, well, what can one say. She was the best.

Look's like I'll have to rent it. Popcorn sound's pretty good along with a large Pepsi, a hot dog, milk duds, bon bons, hmmm, and maybe bum some dark chocolate off Charmian Carr and, oh yeah, some licorice and...

-1bigsteve (o: