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Here
is today's
Little Known Facts story!
She knew she was perfect for the part. And what a part
this was. It wasn’t too often that movie companies came to Georgia
to make a movie. So when David O. Selznick brought an entire movie
company to town to film Margaret Mitchell’s fabulous best seller,
Catherine Campbell knew she was right for the role of Scarlett
O’Hara.
Catherine was a delicate
Southern flower, a native of Atlanta, who possessed all the charm
and grace that the part would demand. And she was an experienced
actress, having done a number of roles in local Atlanta theater
companies. Catherine knew other young Southern belles were vying
for the part too, but she was right for it.
She auditioned for
Selznick, and she watched as probably the most handsome man in
movies in 1939 arrived on the set: Clark Gable, to play Rhett
Butler. Catherine took one look at Gable and knew she wouldn’t have
much trouble falling in love with that fella. Now Clark was indeed
a handsome devil. He was as big off the screen as he was on. He is
one of the few who deserve the title of movie legend. And he was a
fine man.
Catherine also watched
as the talented English actor Leslie Howard arrived to play the part
of Ashley Wilkes, who was the real love of Scarlett’s life. And
Catherine knew it wouldn’t be much trouble doing a love scene with
him either. Catherine had all the charm, the extreme beauty, the
grace, and the knowledge of what antebellum life was like. After
all, she was a true Southerner.
And as you know, the
movie was a huge hit. It set box office records that stood for
almost 60 years. It was a monumental work, and in my opinion (and I
know you didn’t ask) it is the best movie ever made. No wonder the
upcoming actress Catherine Campbell wanted the part of Scarlett so
badly. And you also know she didn’t get it.
She came awfully close
though. Selznick said it was down to the wire between Catherine and
Vivian. But, it was not to be for the hopeful Miss Campbell.
Nope. Vivian Leigh got the part and went into the history books as
Scarlett O’Hara. But, don’t feel too bad for Catherine. She didn’t
do too badly in the end. She got married not too long after that,
and gave up acting in order to take care of her husband and his
mansion, and the dozens of other duties that a world class socialite
has to do.
It’s a Little Known Fact
that the woman who very
nearly was Scarlett O’Hara, you probably never heard of. But you
have heard of her husband, the publishing giant William Randolph
Hearst, and her daughter . . . Patty!
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