Film trivia and fun facts
Ryan Gosling built the kitchen table featured in the movie in preparation for his role as Noah.
Other actresses besides Rachel McAdams who are rumored to have been under consideration for the role of Allie included Ashley Judd, Britney Spears and Reese Witherspoon.
Ryan Gosling was the director's (Nick Cassavetes) first and only choice for the role of Noah. Before Cassavetes, Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Justin Timberlake were also once attached to the project but backed out.
Gena Rowlands, who played older Allie in the movie, is the director's (Nick Cassavetes) mother.
Ryan Gosling prepared for his role by living in Charleston, South Carolina before filming began. For two months, he rowed the Ashley River in the morning and built furniture during the day.
It wasn't in the script that Allie would play the piano, but director Nick Cassavetes felt that it was right, for that's what wealthy young ladies of the 1930s-1940s did. Allie's song is 'Frederic Chopin''s Prelude in E minor Opus 28 #4.
When Noah is driving back to Allie's house after Finn tells him she's left, Noah's car bangs into the fence. This wasn't supposed to happen; it was a mistake made by the actor (Ryan Gosling).
Ryan Gosling (Young Noah) wore brown eye contacts because James Garner (Old Noah) has brown eyes, and Gosling has blue.
Rachel McAdams auditioned for the role during another movie's premiere. She was given the script just a day in advance. She beat nine other actresses for the role. The scenes used during her audition included the one of Allie's and Noah's argument at the end after Allie and her mother return from their morning drive.
The "after 7 years Allie and Noah" scenes were shot first and then the crew/cast went on a Christmas break. Ryan Gosling had to lose the beard and 20lbs he'd had as the older Noah and come back to play the young Noah.
Ryan and Rachel have had an on-off relationship. They were both born in London, Ontario, Canada. In fact, they were born in the same hospital, though Ryan is two years younger than Rachel.
—derived from Wikipedia