…doing this, I realized how much effort you put into finding pictures across time that are even remotely similar. Which you’ll no doubt note I gave up trying, sigh.
Kudos to you tho’ neo, as I quite enjoy these diversions.
…come for the politics, stay for the dance lol.
Wow, Neo! This is one of the more amazing ones. How did you stumble on it? Researching Ballet Russe? It reminds one how much modes of expression, not just physical features, play in this game. Although I have often thought that certain facial features inevitably lead to a certain “type,” a certain “look.” Thanks for this, and for all your thoughtful whimsy.
Ralph Kinney Bennett:
You’re welcome!
Yes, I was pursuing one of my favorite activities—watching old dance videos on YouTube. It’s like having a dance library at your fingertips. I realized it was just about impossible to find any clips of the old Ballet Russe, and then I did some research and discovered that Diaghilev had forbidden any movies to be taken of them because he thought the movies of the time were too herky-jerky and wouldn’t show them to proper advantage. In the meantime I noticed a photo of Diaghilev (I’d certainly seen photos of him before) and I suddenly thought, “Why, it’s Nathan Lane!” Then all I had to do was find some photos of both that were good for matching.
I had to catch Lane with a mustache, for example. He wore one for a show about the Addams Family.
Interesting about the eyebrows. That slant is useful. Is it born in, or can you make faces in a mirror until you get it on call?
Watching Downton Abbey, I note that Elizabeth McGovern has substantial nordic folds which show up when she’s serious and are completely invisible when she’s casual. Not given to many.
brdavis9 Says:
Sorry, not seeing it. I would never have connected those two even if you put them on the same page without going, “Look!?!?”
Mullen has a bigger lower lip, a wider mouth, a more drop-down nose, and her jaw is not so prominently straight, there’s a definite hint of jowl there that breaks the sharply defined lines of Witherspoon’s. Mullen’s also got “chubbier” cheeks leading to dimples RW doesn’t have with a similar smile.
It’s a subtle set of differences, but they add up.
I’d also want to see Mullen face-on, as RW has a really, really square face.
Diaghilev and Nathan Lane?
Actress c. 1930’s Barbara Mullen.
Actress c. 2000’s Reese Witherspoon (pix from Water for Elephants)
Barbara Mullen in A Place of One’s Own (free if you have Amazon Prime).
Similar voice, figure, mannerisms.
…doing this, I realized how much effort you put into finding pictures across time that are even remotely similar. Which you’ll no doubt note I gave up trying, sigh.
Kudos to you tho’ neo, as I quite enjoy these diversions.
…come for the politics, stay for the dance lol.
Wow, Neo! This is one of the more amazing ones. How did you stumble on it? Researching Ballet Russe? It reminds one how much modes of expression, not just physical features, play in this game. Although I have often thought that certain facial features inevitably lead to a certain “type,” a certain “look.” Thanks for this, and for all your thoughtful whimsy.
Ralph Kinney Bennett:
You’re welcome!
Yes, I was pursuing one of my favorite activities—watching old dance videos on YouTube. It’s like having a dance library at your fingertips. I realized it was just about impossible to find any clips of the old Ballet Russe, and then I did some research and discovered that Diaghilev had forbidden any movies to be taken of them because he thought the movies of the time were too herky-jerky and wouldn’t show them to proper advantage. In the meantime I noticed a photo of Diaghilev (I’d certainly seen photos of him before) and I suddenly thought, “Why, it’s Nathan Lane!” Then all I had to do was find some photos of both that were good for matching.
I had to catch Lane with a mustache, for example. He wore one for a show about the Addams Family.
Mousehunt! Mousehunt!Mousehunt!Mousehunt!Mousehunt!Mousehunt!Mousehunt!
Interesting about the eyebrows. That slant is useful. Is it born in, or can you make faces in a mirror until you get it on call?
Watching Downton Abbey, I note that Elizabeth McGovern has substantial nordic folds which show up when she’s serious and are completely invisible when she’s casual. Not given to many.
brdavis9 Says:
Sorry, not seeing it. I would never have connected those two even if you put them on the same page without going, “Look!?!?”
Mullen has a bigger lower lip, a wider mouth, a more drop-down nose, and her jaw is not so prominently straight, there’s a definite hint of jowl there that breaks the sharply defined lines of Witherspoon’s. Mullen’s also got “chubbier” cheeks leading to dimples RW doesn’t have with a similar smile.
It’s a subtle set of differences, but they add up.
I’d also want to see Mullen face-on, as RW has a really, really square face.
OK, here’s Mullen face on — granted, much older, but you can see her face isn’t even vaguely like RW’s
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/agathachristie/images/c/ce/42410861_125834128659.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130622124500
https://margrayglobal.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/reese-witherspoon-wild-trailer-video.jpg?w=483&h=483
Note that, front-on, RW’s chin also has a Jay Leno type jut to it that Ms. Mullen lacks….
😉