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The Surprising Age and Height Differences in the Cast
On screen, Rosemary Clooney played Vera-Ellen’s older sister — but in real life, Clooney was seven years younger. She was 26 at the time, while Vera-Ellen was 33. Bing Crosby, who played her romantic lead, was 51 — creating a 25-year age gap that somehow worked thanks to Bing’s effortless charm.
Dean Jagger, who played the retired general, was ironically younger than Bing by a few months — proof that Hollywood magic can rewrite time itself. Height was another trick: Vera-Ellen was two inches shorter than Clooney, so costume designers gave her taller heels and adjusted camera angles to make the two appear nearly identical.
These subtle fixes gave the movie its picture-perfect symmetry, showing how small details can shape big-screen illusions.
Next → Speaking of cinematic magic — one brand-new invention changed how audiences experienced the holidays forever.