Gone with the Wind is one of the most iconic films in Hollywood history, but it could have been very different if producer David O. Selznick had his way. He wanted Gary Cooper, a star of the silver screen, to play the dashing and charismatic Rhett Butler, the love interest of Scarlett O’Hara, the strong-willed heroine of the Civil War epic.
But Cooper was not interested in the role, and he made a prediction that would haunt him for the rest of his career. He said, “Gone with the Wind is going to be the biggest flop in Hollywood history. I’m just glad it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.”
Cooper was under contract to Samuel Goldwyn, who refused to loan him out to Selznick International Pictures, the independent studio that was making the film. Selznick had to pay a hefty price to get Gable from MGM, who agreed to loan him out for $400,000 and 50% of the profits. Gable was not keen on playing Rhett Butler either, but he had no choice.
Meanwhile, Selznick had a hard time finding the perfect actress to play Scarlett O’Hara, the fiery and spoiled daughter of a Georgia plantation owner. He launched a nationwide casting call that interviewed 1,400 women for the part, but none of them impressed him. He finally settled on Vivien Leigh, a young and unknown English actress who had a captivating screen presence.
The film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s bestselling novel faced many other challenges, such as multiple script revisions, director changes, censorship issues, and technical difficulties. It took four years from buying the film rights to releasing the film in 1939.
But all the troubles paid off when Gone with the Wind became a huge success, winning eight Oscars and becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, adjusted for inflation. It was re-released periodically throughout the 20th century and became a cultural phenomenon. The film is famous for its memorable lines, such as Rhett Butler’s “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” and Scarlett O’Hara’s “After all, tomorrow is another day.”
Cooper later regretted his decision and admitted that it was one of the best roles ever offered in Hollywood. He said, “It was one of the best roles ever offered in Hollywood… But I said no. No actor ever really decided to make a fool of himself in a film.” He missed the chance to be part of a cinematic masterpiece that still captivates audiences today.
Relevant articles:
– Gary Cooper refused the role in “Gone with the Wind” and thought the film would be a massive failure, The Vintage News, Jan 6, 2018
– Gone with the Wind (film) – Wikipedia, Wikipedia, accessed on Jul 17, 2023
– 12 Surprising ‘Gone With The Wind’ Facts | LittleThings.com, LittleThings.com, Jul 15, 2023
– TOP 15 QUOTES BY GARY COOPER | A-Z Quotes, A-Z Quotes, accessed on Jul 17, 2023