MovieChat Forums > Babes in Toyland (1934) Discussion > How in the world was Barnaby played by a...

How in the world was Barnaby played by a 22 year old?

posted 16 years ago by Traction311
11 replies | jump to latest

He looked at least 60. Yet it says he was born in 1912.

[–] Chesterfield_Invincible 16 years ago

Simple. It's called make-up and acting.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] artb50 15 years ago

The actor who played Barnaby was Henry Brandon, who was actually in his 20's. He was the lover of Judy Garland's 4th husband, Mark Herron, after they divorced. They remained partners until his death.

[–] tmaj48 15 years ago

I remember reading his obituary in 1990 and being amazed that the "old guy" from this film had still been alive so recently! He also played Barnaby in "Our Gang Follies of
1938," and appears in the same film in his youthful persona as well.

I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!

[–] lastmidnite2 15 years ago

He's also the hunky Indian "Scar" in John Ford's The Searchers.

[–] billy51482 15 years ago

It's funny how Bo Peep says "I wouldn't marry you if you were young." Henry Brandon was very young. And I also recognized him from the Our Gang Follies as a young man. He was quite handsom too.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] zaphod1957 15 years ago

I understand he got the part when Roach saw him playing the part of an older, cranky man in the play "The Drunkard." He called him in for an interview for this movie and was amazed when a 22 year-old man show up!

Of course he got the part.

[–] stoolfam 15 years ago

I just watched this on tv - and he does look pretty rough in this movie, but then again in some shots he looks a little too young...but I didn't think he was only 2 years older than the girl that played Bo Peep!

[–] mblotd 11 years ago

For the longest time I thought the part was played by a genuine old man. I only found out a few years ago that wasn't the case. Now every time I see Barnaby onscreen I can't stop thinking: "this guy's only 22!!"

[–] Darthmauler_megaa 11 years ago

The guy was a great actor, no doubt about that. There's never a moment where I don't believe he's this old, ornery man.

"Starscream cookies are more than meets the icing!" --Nostalgia Critic