jawebster2000 says > In the movie, Glenn Ford looked several inches taller than William Holden. According to their bios, they are both 5'11". My conclusion: Ford must have worn "lifts" during filming. Why would he do that?
I never knew how tall either of them was but for some reason when I saw the movie I was surprised to find Ford was taller. I like them both as actors and have always enjoyed their work so I don't really care either way. Whatever their height, both were tall enough, in my opinion. However, to answer your question, Ford wearing lifts is one possibility but there are others. Below are a few others.
1. It may not have been Glenn Ford's idea at all. Given the way the movie unfolds, maybe the film makers wanted the good guy to be a little taller; giving him a slight dominance over Holden. It's odd but true; people tend to respond better to a comparatively taller person than to a shorter one.
2. In real life Ford is a couple of years older than Holden; it could be he's meant to be older in the movie too. His character, Tod, is more mature and more responsible than Holden's character, Dan. The height difference could be a visual representation of that.
3. At the time the movie was made it's possible Ford was taller. At twenty five he would have already reached his full height potential. Holden, on the other hand, could have still been growing. He was about twenty three but it's not unknown for men to add inches through the age of twenty five.
4. Their height difference could be an optical illusion. In some scenes there's a clear difference in height between them but in others, not so much. Edgar Buchanan, Doc, was, coincidentally, also the same height. From what I recall, there weren't any scenes with Ford but when he was with Holden there wasn't any noticeable height difference between them. I could, of course, be mistaken.
5. The information in Holden's bio could be inaccurate. This movie was made early in his career. As his career took off or to help boost it, his publicity people or the studio may have altered his image, included adding a few inches, so he could get the kinds of roles he wanted and/or to broaden his appeal with the public. His name was changed; for other it was their background story. For all we know maybe Holden's the one who wore lifts.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
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Noirdame79
8 years ago
I think William Holden was probably around 5'9. I came across a candid photo of Holden and Glenn Ford taken a bit later in their careers in which they were talking with Dick Powell, and even with Holden wearing cowboy boots, Ford still appeared to be taller (he was dressed in what was casual wear back then, a sweater over a shirt and tie, etc).
http://www.listal.com/viewimage/13321417
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vicky_lc2001 (1907)
7 years ago
Holden 5'9" in the film or his final real life height? Their height difference surprised me too, Holden seems like a taller guy than Ford actually. But maybe he hadn't reached his potential height at 23.
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