In 1936, producer David O. Selznick bought the film rights to a new novel that was sweeping the nation. Margaret Mitchell's epic saga of the South, Gone with the Wind. Among the numerous massive preparations for the movie, top of the list was to find just the right actress to play the lead role... fiery Southern belle, Scarlett O'Hara.
Actresses both famous and infamous wanted the role of a lifetime. Some were deemed too old (Tallulah Bankhead), some too inexperienced (Lana Turner and Susan Hayward), some came close to landing the part (Paulette Goddard and Joan Bennett). When the dust settled, it was a beautiful English rose, Vivien Leigh, who came out on top.
But the getting there was extremely interesting and more than intriguing. A true slice of Hollywood history, the Search for Scarlett O'Hara would never see the likes of casting possibilities again. My book by that name is now available in paperback, revised and expanded (the eBook version has also been revised and expanded in a 2nd edition). The Search for Scarlett O'Hara: Gone with the Wind and Hollywood's Most Famous Casting Call is perfect classic movie reading about what is arguably the most famous classic movie of them all. Check it by clicking on the photo below.
