Vivien Leigh & Scarlett O’Hara: A Legendary Romance

Here’s a breakdown of the text, focusing on key data and themes:

Main Topic: The casting process for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in the film Gone With the wind.

Key Players:

* Vivien Leigh: The actress who ultimately won the role of Scarlett O’Hara. She was a rising star in British theatre and had a relationship with Laurence Olivier.
* Laurence Olivier: Vivien Leigh’s lover (and future husband), a prominent English actor.
* David Selznick: The film producer of Gone With the Wind.
* Myron Selznick: David Selznick’s brother and Vivien Leigh’s American manager, who played a crucial role in her getting the part.
* Bette Davis, Joanne Crawford, Lucy Ball, Paulette Goddard, Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyck, Lana Turner, Carole Lombard: Hollywood stars who auditioned for the role.
* Paulette Goddard: A strong contender for the role, but ultimately rejected due to societal disapproval of her relationship with charlie Chaplin.
* Herbert Holman & Jill Esmond: The spouses of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier respectively, from whom they were separated during their affair.
* Katharine Hepburn: A Hollywood diva who witnessed vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier’s wedding.

Key Events & Information:

* Extensive Auditions: Over 1,400 actresses auditioned for the role of Scarlett O’Hara.
* Vivien Leigh’s Determination: Vivien Leigh was resolute to play Scarlett after reading the novel and confidently predicted she would get the part.
* American vs. British Contenders: The final competition came down to Vivien Leigh (British) and Paulette Goddard (American).
* Moral Double standards: Paulette Goddard was rejected due to her unmarried cohabitation with Charlie Chaplin, while Vivien Leigh’s affair with Olivier was largely overlooked (attributed to her being European).
* Vivien Leigh’s Success: Vivien Leigh’s performance as Scarlett O’Hara was so iconic that the character became closely associated with her.
* Oscar Win: Vivien Leigh won an Oscar for her role in Gone With the Wind.
* Personal Life Changes: The success of the film coincided with Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier finally being able to marry after divorcing their respective spouses.
* Vivien Leigh’s Feelings About Motherhood: Vivien Leigh did not feel suited for motherhood and did not object to her daughter Suzanne being raised primarily by her ex-husband.

Themes:

* The Power of Determination: Vivien Leigh’s unwavering belief in her ability to play Scarlett O’Hara.
* Hollywood’s Casting Process: The competitive and often complex nature of casting for major film roles.
* Societal Hypocrisy: The double standards applied to the personal lives of actresses, particularly regarding relationships.
* The Impact of a Role: How a role can become inextricably linked to an actor’s identity.
* Personal Sacrifice: Vivien leigh’s admission that she wasn’t suited for motherhood.