Movie Puzzle Q

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ghostjmf · #1 Post by **ghostjmf** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:17 pm

On "The Notebook", which I saw the last 5/6 of on TV last week:

Spoiler

Why on earth, since all the sources I have checked agree that Allie does wind up with 1st-Love Noah Calhoun, played in later life by James Garner, do they cast blonde, very pale-skinned, blue-eyed Ryan Gosling as Young Noah, but dark haired, not-pale-skinned James Marsden as Young 2nd-Love Lon Hammond Jr?

There is no way, not even with the brown contacts the stuff I looked up but which I couldn't see on my 13-inch set says Gosling wore, that Gosling could grow up to look like a lotta-genetic-parts-Cherokee James Garner, but you could imagine James Marsden doing it.

I kinda like my original interpretation, that Lon loved her so much he would even pretend to be Noah for her in her dementia, but the movie did eventually call James Garner's "Duke" character "Mr Calhoun" & I did go back & check that that was Noah's last name. And you do see Young Allie, in the final "young time" flashback, back at Noah's house with suitcases in hand & a shoulder-shrugging grin, indicating its him she chose.

So why this deceptive casting?

Of course, when the movie finally does collages of photos of Noah & Allie's married years, they show photos of younger James Garner (straight out of the Maverick days) & younger Gina Rowlands, & none of Gosling & MacAdams, who play the young lovers in the movie, so Gosling must have turned into Garner right quick.

ToLiveIsToFly · #2 Post by **ToLiveIsToFly** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:18 pm

Wild horses couldn't make me sit through The Notebook, but every photo I've ever seen of Ryan Gosling (for example see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0331516/) has him brown-haired, not blond.

ghostjmf · #3 Post by **ghostjmf** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:12 pm

Whereas I loved it

Spoiler

(except for the de rigeur, or however you spell it "the postman ate your letters" aspect; they had PO Boxes & Special Delivery even during WWII, for Pete's sake)

; that's what makes horse races etc.

Mr. Gosling's hair is either blonde or very sunbleached in "The Notebook".

Spoiler

8 years after the lovers initially part, it's got some brown streaks in it, & he's grown a beard.

Spoiler

Apparently in rehearsal for his immenent turning-into blacker-than-black-haired James Garner.

peacock2121 · #4 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:40 am

I read the book before the movie. Since Prince of Tides, I have made a rule to not see the movie from a book I loved. They never do it right.

kayrharris · #5 Post by **kayrharris** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:06 am

Pea is exactly right. The movie version of a book almost always leaves out what I think are the best parts. I'm almost always disappointed if I think it's going to be as good as the book. I've learned to lower my expectations.

mellytu74 · #6 Post by **mellytu74** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:08 am

MY favorite is

Spoiler

In Giant, how do violet-eyed/black haired Elizabeth Taylor and brown-eyed/black haired Rock Hudson produce the blonde Carroll Baker and Dennis Hopper as children?

mrkelley23 · #7 Post by **mrkelley23** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:12 am

mellytu74 wrote:MY favorite is

Spoiler

In Giant, how do violet-eyed/black haired Elizabeth Taylor and brown-eyed/black haired Rock Hudson produce the blonde Carroll Baker and Dennis Hopper as children?

Spoiler

Didn't anyone ever tell you about Rock, little girl? I'm thinking James Dean must've pinch-hit, or something. Maybe Chill Wills snuck one in -- who knows what color his hair was?

ghostjmf · #8 Post by **ghostjmf** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:15 am

"Relatives" that don't look even marginally related have long been a movie standard. Gotta cast the stars, you know. Ditto the stars' XXXXX characters' "children".

Spoiler

But "young-adult so-&-so" not even looking like themself when they get older....aaaaaaargh

andrewjackson · #9 Post by **andrewjackson** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:38 am

My parents have black and red hair. My siblings and I have: brown, red, black and blonde hair in that order.

I'm just saying.

Bob Juch · #10 Post by **Bob Juch** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:46 am

andrewjackson wrote:My parents have black and red hair. My siblings and I have: brown, red, black and blonde hair in that order.

I'm just saying.

What color hair did the milkman have?

andrewjackson · #11 Post by **andrewjackson** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:00 am

Bob Juch wrote:
andrewjackson wrote:My parents have black and red hair. My siblings and I have: brown, red, black and blonde hair in that order.

I'm just saying.
What color hair did the milkman have?

It varied.

And it had to.

Intervals between siblings.

Me
15 months
Brother
15 months
Brother
25 months
Sister

Maybe we stopped home delivery of milk for a while there.

earendel · #12 Post by **earendel** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:23 am

peacock2121 wrote:I read the book before the movie. Since Prince of Tides, I have made a rule to not see the movie from a book I loved. They never do it right.

elwing feels the same way - i'm willing to see the movie and try treating it on its own rather than comparing it to the book. That's how I managed with LOTR, for instance.

earendel · #13 Post by **earendel** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:24 am

mrkelley23 wrote:
mellytu74 wrote:MY favorite is

Spoiler

In Giant, how do violet-eyed/black haired Elizabeth Taylor and brown-eyed/black haired Rock Hudson produce the blonde Carroll Baker and Dennis Hopper as children?

Spoiler
Maybe Chill Wills snuck one in -- who knows what color his hair was?

Eeeewwwwwwww!