Among the biggest names vying for the role were Lucille Ball, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, and Lana Turner, but Selznick rejected them all as unconvincing for one reason or another. For a while, the frontrunners were Tallulah Bankhead and Paulette Goddard but he bypassed them as well.

Who all auditioned for Scarlett O Hara?

Bette Davis was the most popular actress with the fans to play Scarlett. In January 1937, the top five leading contenders, as faithfully reported by the newspapers, for the role were: Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, Constance Bennett, Katharine Hepburn and Tallulah Bankhead.

Who turned down Gone with the Wind?

For the role of Rhett Butler, Selznick from the start wanted Clark Gable, but Gable was under contract to MGM, which never loaned him to other studios. Gary Cooper was considered, but Samuel Goldwyn—to whom Cooper was under contract—refused to loan him out.

Who was the first choice for Scarlett in Gone with the Wind?

Selznick found Lana Turner “completely inadequate, too young to have a grasp of the part.” Until Vivien Leigh's arrival, Paulette Goddard was Selznick's first choice.

Did Lucille Ball try out for Gone with the Wind?

Ball also did some stage work and auditioned (unsuccessfully, of course) to play Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind (1939). Among her more notable roles of the era at RKO was that of a burlesque queen in Dorothy Arzner's Dance, Girl, Dance (1940), with Maureen O'Hara as another dancer.

How Paulette Goddard lost out on the role of Scarlett O'Hara to Vivien Leigh?

Did maureen o hara and Lucille Ball get along?

Lucille Ball and Maureen O'Hara became inseparable friends while shooting this film, and remained lifelong friends until Ball's death in 1989. O'Hara was having lunch with her when Ball first saw her future husband Desi Arnaz.

Did Bette Davis want to play Scarlett O Hara?

Davis expressed her desire to play Scarlett, and while David O. Selznick was conducting a search for the actress to play the role, a radio poll named her as the audience favorite.

Did Ashley Wilkes love Scarlett?

Ashley is the man with whom Scarlett O'Hara is obsessed. Gentlemanly yet indecisive, he loves Scarlett, but finds he has more in common with Melanie, his first cousin and later his wife.

How many babies did Scarlett O Hara have?

In the book, Scarlett gives birth to three children: Wade Hampton Hamilton, Ella Lorena Kennedy, and Eugenie Victoria "Bonnie Blue" Butler. In the film version only Bonnie is featured. Almost universally, the studio and the public agreed that the part of Rhett Butler should go to Clark Gable.

How much was Vivien Leigh paid for Gone with the Wind?

Leigh in costume for Gone With the Wind. The film had a grueling schedule: Leigh worked for 125 days on the movie while Gable worked for 71 days. Leigh—who spent two and a half hours on screen during the four hour movie— was paid approximately $25,000, while Gable earned more than $120,000.

How did Clark Gable feel about Gone with the Wind?

Apparently, Gable was very much opposed to the idea of starring in what he regarded as “a woman's picture”. Indeed, he was pretty resistant to the idea of playing a character like Rhett at all, though later gave in to public opinion and accepted the part.

Who turned down Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind?

When Gary Cooper turned down the role of Rhett Butler, he was passionately against it. He was quoted saying, "Gone With The Wind is going to be the biggest flop in Hollywood history. I'm glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling flat on his nose, not Gary Cooper".

Who was considered for Scarlett?

The search for an actress to play Scarlett in the film version of the novel famously drew the biggest names in the history of cinema, such as Bette Davis (who had been cast as a Southern belle in Jezebel in 1938), and Katharine Hepburn, who went so far as demanding an appointment with producer David O.

How old was Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind?

Filming Gone With the Wind

Leslie wasn't a popular choice for the role of Ashley. He was English, not American, and he was 46, while Ashley's character was supposed to be 21. Similarly, Vivien Leigh was an English actress chosen to play Southern Belle Scarlett O'Hara.

Why did Scarlett O Hara wear a red dress?

In Gone With the Wind, when Rhett Butler discovers that his wife, Scarlett O'Hara, still harbours feelings for another man, Ashley Wilkes, he forces her to wear the most audacious red velvet gown, trimmed in red feathers and swaddled in a cloud of red tulle, to attend his rival's birthday party.

What does Scarlett O Hara symbolize?

Scarlett's life changes as the Civil War progresses. Throughout the novel, Scarlett grows as a character, eventually digging inside for strength as she finds ways to save her family from starvation. As such, Scarlett can be seen as symbolizing resilience and strength of character.

How many times did Scarlett marry?

Scarlett has married three times. The first time is to marry Charles who is Melanie's brother. The second is to marry Frank who is her sister Suellen's husband. The third is to marry Rhett.

Why did Rhett marry Scarlett?

Though he blames her for the death of her husband, Rhett laughs at Scarlett's sincere fears that she's going to hell for her role in Frank's life and death, and proposes to the newly-widowed Scarlett, saying he always knew he'd have her, one way or another, and she should marry him for fun and their physical ...

Why was Scarlett so obsessed with Ashley?

He epitomizes the old lifestyle and cannot function in the New South that emerges during and after the war. Scarlett clings to him like many Southerners cling to dreams of their old lives, but her eventual recognition of Ashley's weakness and incompetence enables her to see that dreaming of a lost world makes one weak.

Did Rhett really love Scarlett?

Rhett initially denies, then admits, that he loves Scarlett, but he does not want to "lose himself" over her again. Back in Charleston, Rhett leaves Scarlett near death at his mother's house, telling her, in a letter, that while he admires her bravery, he will never see her again.

Why did Ashley marry his cousin?

Ashley admits he is attracted to her but he is determined to marry Melanie. His main stated reason is that he believes he has more in common with Melanie than with Scarlett. Scarlett feels disappointed and hurt. In her confusion she decides to hurt Ashley in return by accepting a marriage proposal by Charles Hamilton.

What was Scarlett O Hara's daughter's name?

Eugenia Victoria "Bonnie Blue" Butler (1869-1874) was the daughter of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. Bonnie was much like Scarlett: beautiful, vivacious, charming, and spoiled.