MovieChat Forums > Act of Violence (1948) Discussion > Van and Janet looked like father and dau...

Van and Janet looked like father and daughter

posted 18 years ago by edwardholub
16 replies | jump to latest

Wow. People complain about age differences between leading men and their leading ladies today, but it looks like they did it back then as well. I saw Act of Violence and when I saw how young Janet Leige looked it was a MAJOR distraction, especially during the scenes that featured the "other couple next door". The two men looked the same age, but the two wives didn't have too much in common. So, when you see Sean Connery cavorting wiht Catherine Zeta Jones just remember that it started long before that.

[–] Noir-It-All 17 years ago

The 17-year difference in age? Very true. Van's character does say to his wife that she is just a kid. And, Phyllis Thaxter says this, too.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Ipsissimus 17 years ago

Yeah, and her voice sounds like that of a young teenager!

"Baby, I don't care."

[–] archsleep 17 years ago

This is addressed in the film. Van does talk down to her on more than one occasion.

Consider when and where the film is set. A lot of young men got wiped out during the war, so...

[–] marbleann 15 years ago

Me thinks the reason he picked such a young girl to marry was because of his past and he could control her. He was able to leave his home town and move across country without any problems because she was so young and she really had no one but her parents back home. He kind of isolated her. I think with a older woman he would not have had so much control over his marriage. Plus she might of been wise enough to ask a few questions about what happened during the war.

[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

Good ideas, marbleann.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] marbleann 14 years ago

TY. See in the beginning of the movie we thought he was a nice guy being harassed by Robert Ryan. So in the beginning their age difference really wasn't that big a deal. But I really believe her age was a important part of the plot when we found out the real deal. Robert Ryan a mad man with a limp.. a noise not soon forgotten, Van Johnson and his lovely young family. And it was something we should of thought about when we first heard about their ages. But we were set up to think Ryan was a monster.
But after it came out we knew why he picked a person so young. He knew also she was going to support him thick and thin no matter what. She was going to be very hard to convince he was a bad guy just in case people started to talk, no less when Robert Ryan came back. And being she was so young with a child we the audience were going to feel even harsher against Ryan. But he really never did anything to her but ask about hubby. And watch the house. The wife was never really in peril from Ryan. But the way he looked and that noise that limp made you would think he was a psychopathic killer. Her hubby was who really put her in the spot she was in. Also someone older and more worldly would not have been intimidated by Ryan like she was. Her acting the way she did toward him made him even a more convincing villain. Good casting and plot by writer and director. They should of called it the Red Herring. I love that movie I never see it anymore

[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

I'm lucky enough to own it as part of a "film noir collection".

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] marbleann 14 years ago

What is the official name of the collection so I can go and hint for it for my birthday which is only 2 months away. Too late for Xmas. lol

[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 4 (Act of Violence / Mystery Street / Crime Wave / Decoy / Illegal / The Big Steal / They Live By Night / Side Street / Where Danger Lives / Tension) (1950)

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Friday, December 24? Order it in the next 23 hours and 55 minutes, and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Ordering for Christmas? To ensure delivery by December 24, choose Two-Day Shipping at checkout. Read more about holiday shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Collection-Violence-Mystery-Illegal/dp/B000PKG7DE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1293064409&sr=1-3

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] marbleann 14 years ago

TY. I already went there. There is a version with one other movie or the collection.

[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

So, not what you are looking for?

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] marbleann 14 years ago

Oh it is what I am looking for I am just trying to decide which one to get. I am pretty sire I have most of the films in the noir collection but I am not 100% sure. I have 2 400 disc DVD players and a library with bookcases filled with DVD's. I just moved to this house not too long ago so you can imagine I do not have any of these movies organized. And I am not looking forward to doing it. lol. So I have to go through and check what I have. Many a time I have brought a duplicate of a movie I already had. The double bill DVD with Act of Violence has a movie Mystery Street with it. I know I do not have that. I never even heard of it before. SO I think I am leaning toward that version.

[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

Mystery Street is terrific. Elsa Lanchester plays a character I've never seen her play before. Good luck with finding the version you like.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] marbleann 14 years ago

THey have it at Amazon just like you pointed out. Thanks

[–] Noir-It-All 14 years ago

Yep.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne