STACK #158 Dec 2017

EXTRAS FEATURE

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her invitation to come to Hollywood to audition for the part, Selznick thought he had already found his Scarlett. She was the film actress Paulette Goddard, a dark beauty with a fiery personality. Selznick believed she would perfectly personify the Scarlett character onscreen as she was depicted in the novel. But there was a major problem with casting her in the role, and that was the widespread disbelief about her married status. Goddard was a protégée of Charlie Chaplin, and was openly living with the comedy actor. But were they married, or indulging in an immoral liaison? Goddard assured Selznick that she and Chaplin had been married on a boat in Singapore. However when Selznick asked to see the marriage licence, Goddard was unable to produce it, explaining it had been destroyed. At the time the strict Production Code censorship did not just apply to what appeared onscreen, but was equally applicable to Hollywood actors' private lives as well. Selznick could not risk his film being boycotted by the powerful Catholic Legion of Decency, and an outraged public. Consequently, he decided to continue looking for Scarlett amongst Hollywood’s established stars in parallel with the sham of his nationwide search. British actress Vivien Leigh would win

Edythe Marrenner (left) from her screen test for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in 1937

(Right) Warner Bros publicity photo signed by their young contract player – now named Susan Hayward – in early 1939

David O. Selznick in his office during the "Search for Scarlett" publicity campaign

David O. Selznick’s office. As she entered his inner sanctum, Selznick was somewhat surprised when Edythe leant over his desk, extended her hand and said “So pleased to meet you at last.” Clearing his

the part of Scarlett, in late 1938. But now, a year prior, Edythe Marrener stood in the centre of the sound stage and was handed several pages of script. She was confused as to what, exactly, she had to do. Then a quiet voice said, “Miss Marrener, the camera is behind you.” The voice belonged to a nearsighted little man sitting in a canvas chair, who then said, “Face the camera and read from the first page.” Quickly controlling her panic, Marrenner began to read until she heard the man shout: “Cut! No, no, no. You must project yourself more.” She quickly replied, “ Look, who’s reading this, you or me?” A silence suddenly descended over the set, until the man signalled for the cameras to roll again. After reading through several scenes she was thanked and directed back to the changing room, to remove her costume. She asked the woman who accompanied her who the bespectacled man sitting in the canvas chair was. “Mr George Cukor,” replied the woman, “The contract director for Gone With The Wind. ” (Cukor would be later replaced by Victor Fleming.) Edythe shrugged her shoulders and thought, “Well, wasn’t a hot-tempered personality what they were after?” A week later Edythe was summoned to

throat, Selznick said, “We’ve studied your tests Miss Marrener, and decided you need more acting experience. Go back to Brooklyn and learn how to act.” Edythe sat motionless, and then responded: “No, Mr, Selznick.” She stood and smiled. “I think I’ll stay. I like California, and the orange trees.” A now angry Selznick barked, “Then turn in your return train ticket to New York at the front office.” “Can’t,” she said as she walked toward the door. She turned and fixed him with an intense gaze: “I’ve already cashed it in to live on. Bye.” Edythe – with her classic beauty enhanced by flaming red hair – soon found an agent willing to take her on. With a canister containing her five-minute Scarlett test, her agent called on Warner talent executive Max Arnow. After screening Edythe’s test, Arnow said to the agent, “I can see why Selznick canned her. She’s terrible.” He paused, and then added, “But there’s potential there. Bring her in.” The very next day Arnow signed Edythe Marrener to Warner Bros for six months, as one of its $100-a-week contract players. He also supplied her with a new name – Susan Hayward. “You OK with that?” he asked her. Edythe replied, “If it’s a necessary step toward movie stardom, so be it”. The potential Max Arnow saw in the now renamed Hayward would evolve into five Academy Award nominations and a Best Actress Oscar reality.

Paulette Goddard with Charlie Chaplin

Gossip columnist Louella Parsons' newspaper article jumps the gun by announcing that Paulette Goddard had been signed for the part of Scarlett O’Hara. She hadn’t.

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To Be Continued

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