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Were the 30's eras actors based on real actors?

posted 16 years ago by djmils
5 replies | jump to latest

When I saw John Wood (the fellow making a martini in the film within a film), I immediately thought it was Edward Everett Horton from Top Hat and figured that it was some sort of compositing trick. My jaw actually dropped when he started interacting with the other characters.

I was wondering if the other characters in the film within a film were based on real actors from the period. Of course Van Johnson was a star in the 40s and 50s, but I was wondering if the others were meant to be specific representations and not just character archetypes. I don't know too much about movies from the 30s so I would love to know. Thanks.

[–] Loomis_Orange 16 years ago

I don't think Allen was going in that direction when making this film. The story was about something else entirely. Those people were just people. If they bared a resemlance to anyone you've seen in films, it was probably a coincidence.

[–] txfilmfan 15 years ago

I thought the same thing of Edward Everett Horton. If it wasn't intentional, it surely is an odd coincidence. The other characters aren't distinctive enough in my mind to equate them with stars from the 30's.

[–] lubin-freddy 15 years ago

Yes, the Edward Everett Horton connection was clear. The black maid reminded me of Louise Beavers. And Tom Baxter kind of reminded me of Joel McCrea.

"Sometimes you have to take the bull by the tail, and face the truth" - G. Marx

[–] ProfessorFate 15 years ago

Count me in as yet another person who associated the John Wood character with Edward Everett Horton. I think the rest were more archetypes, but they certainly reminded me of specific actors: the glib Broadway playwright (Noel Coward), the ditzy blonde socialite (Jean Harlow), the dowdy countess (May Robson), the black maid (Hattie McDaniel), the slinky exotic singer (Carmen Miranda), etc.

"Push the button, Max!"

[–] MyMovieTVRomance 9 years ago

the slinky exotic singer (Carmen Miranda), etc.

When I watched her, a dark-haired Marlene Dietrich came to mind. I don't think Carmen Miranda was a star in the 1930s anyway. If I remember right, she didn't hit it big in Hollywood until the 1940s.

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!