Parents and kids too close in age
10-22-10, 11:20 AM
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Parents and kids too close in age
Some movies cast people very close in age to play parent and child. They did a nice job in Last Crusade even though Sean Connery is only 12 years older than Harrison Ford
But in Step Brothers Mary Steenburgen is 14 years older than Will Farrell and didn't look old enough to be his mother. Biologically possible but not a great pairing.
In Blue Hawaii Angela Lansbury was 8 years older than ELvis who played her son.
Even in Bounty Hunter Jennifer Anniston is smoking hot but looks every bit her 42 years, where Christine Baransky I think looks youthfull for a woman pushing 60. There is a 17 year difference which is plausible but struck me as not working. Of course not much in that movie worked so no great loss.
On TV, Molly Shannon played Selma Blairs' mom in Kath and Kim with an 8 year age difference. Wondering if there any other glaring examples or if I found them all?
But in Step Brothers Mary Steenburgen is 14 years older than Will Farrell and didn't look old enough to be his mother. Biologically possible but not a great pairing.
In Blue Hawaii Angela Lansbury was 8 years older than ELvis who played her son.
Even in Bounty Hunter Jennifer Anniston is smoking hot but looks every bit her 42 years, where Christine Baransky I think looks youthfull for a woman pushing 60. There is a 17 year difference which is plausible but struck me as not working. Of course not much in that movie worked so no great loss.
On TV, Molly Shannon played Selma Blairs' mom in Kath and Kim with an 8 year age difference. Wondering if there any other glaring examples or if I found them all?
10-22-10, 11:23 AM
#2
Moderator
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
North by Northwest (1959)
Cary Grant is only eight years younger than Jessie Royce Landis, who plays his mother.
Hamlet (1948)
Laurence Olivier is 11 years older than the actress playing his mother, Eileen Herlie!
Cary Grant is only eight years younger than Jessie Royce Landis, who plays his mother.
Hamlet (1948)
Laurence Olivier is 11 years older than the actress playing his mother, Eileen Herlie!
10-22-10, 11:23 AM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
Mean Girls - Amy Poehler was only 7 years older than her onscreen daughter played by Rachel McAdams.
10-22-10, 11:26 AM
#4
Moderator
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
I doubt anything will beat out The Manchurian Candidate. Angela Lansbury was younger than Laurence Harvey, yet played his mother.
10-22-10, 11:28 AM
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10-22-10, 11:35 AM
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10-22-10, 12:39 PM
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Re: Parents and kids too close in age
10-22-10, 12:43 PM
#9
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10-22-10, 01:22 PM
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Re: Parents and kids too close in age
Not a movie, but Michael Pitt (29) and Gretchen Mol (37) don't make for a very believable son/mother duo on Boardwalk Empire, even if Pitt is playing a younger character.
10-22-10, 01:55 PM
#11
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
Has anyone mentioned that on Boardwalk Empire that Michael Pitt is only 8 years younger than Gretchen Mol who plays his mom?
...I actually thought he was simply cheating on his wife when they introduced her.
...I actually thought he was simply cheating on his wife when they introduced her.
10-22-10, 02:01 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
Not a movie, but Gretchen Mol is way too young to be Michael Pitt's mom. Wait a minute, seems that has been brought up already! The way they introduced her was really weird. Don't know many moms who wrap their legs around their sons and kiss them on the lips!
Surprised nobody has mentioned Alexander. I think Angelina Jolie is only one year older than Colin Farrell in real life, yet he was her son. Worse yet, they didn't even bother to really age Jolie for the part.
The way they introduced her was really weird. Don't know many moms who wrap their legs around their sons and kiss them on the lips! Surprised nobody has mentioned Alexander. I think Angelina Jolie is only one year older than Colin Farrell in real life, yet he was her son. Worse yet, they didn't even bother to really age Jolie for the part.
10-22-10, 02:30 PM
#15
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Re: Parents and kids too close in age
I'll give you that one. I wonder if she ever got a complex playing younger peoples parents?
She must be a real looker 
10-22-10, 02:37 PM
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10-22-10, 03:01 PM
#19
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10-22-10, 03:34 PM
#20
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
Ernest Borgnine is younger than Kirk Douglas by about a month, yet played his father in THE VIKINGS (1958). Borgnine is 8&1/2 years older than Tony Curtis who played another son of his in THE VIKINGS. But this is what great actors do. They make it believable.
10-22-10, 03:56 PM
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Re: Parents and kids too close in age
I wonder if a moderator will be in touch with Lemmy and I about a multiple accounts issue.
10-22-10, 05:49 PM
#22
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
The Godfather: Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) was brought in as an orphan, but was supposed to be the same age as Sonny (James Caan). In reality, he's only seven years older than Brando who played his adopted father. The same goes for Fredo (John Cazale) who was only 11 years older than Brando but was supposed to be the middle child.
Out to Sea: Elaine Stritch was only 11 years older than Dyan Cannon who played her daughter. However, Cannon looks at least ten years younger in the movie than she actually was.
Out to Sea: Elaine Stritch was only 11 years older than Dyan Cannon who played her daughter. However, Cannon looks at least ten years younger in the movie than she actually was.
10-22-10, 05:53 PM
#23
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
Actually, Lansbury (b. 1925) was three years older than Harvey (b. 1928).
Ernest Borgnine is younger than Kirk Douglas by about a month, yet played his father in THE VIKINGS (1958). Borgnine is 8&1/2 years older than Tony Curtis who played another son of his in THE VIKINGS. But this is what great actors do. They make it believable.
Ernest Borgnine is younger than Kirk Douglas by about a month, yet played his father in THE VIKINGS (1958). Borgnine is 8&1/2 years older than Tony Curtis who played another son of his in THE VIKINGS. But this is what great actors do. They make it believable.
Poor Ernest Borgnine, ugly and old looking his entire life.
10-22-10, 07:18 PM
#24
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
Since some TV shows have come up...John Mahoney was only 14 or 15 years older than Kelsey Grammar in Frasier. While in society there are teens who have kids when they are 15 that was something the producers of the series felt they had to deal with and made John appear older than he was by giving him his cane.
10-22-10, 07:30 PM
#25
Re: Parents and kids too close in age
The Godfather: Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) was brought in as an orphan, but was supposed to be the same age as Sonny (James Caan). In reality, he's only seven years older than Brando who played his adopted father. The same goes for Fredo (John Cazale) who was only 11 years older than Brando but was supposed to be the middle child.
Brando - 1924
Duvall - 1931
Caan - 1940
Pacino - 1940
Cazale - 1935