Hollywood's First Choices: (Or Why Groucho Marx Never Played Rhett Butler) : How the Greatest Casting Decisions Were Made

by Bruce S. Stuart, Jeff Burkhart

Hollywood's most famous and infamous casting decisions come alive in this exuberant, witty chronicle of the fateful choices that have altered the course of movie history. Contains over 100 amazing casting tidbits, such as Ronald Reagan being first choice for the part of Rick in Casablanca 50 black-and-white photographs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

185 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 1994

Reviews

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book gives a brief look at specific movies and how the actors came to have the roles or lose the roles. How interesting a reader would find this would depend on their interest in the movies chosen to be in the book.
One aspect this reader found annoying was the lack of logic as to which movie came first or last in the book. I would have preferred the movies to go in order of the year of release as that would have made it easier to keep things in order as often the same actors are mentioned again and again for different roles in different movies.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book for movie buffs. Some insights and well told.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book discusses Hollywood, the movies and the studio system of the past - how certain people were cast in the classic roles we can't see anyone but them playing and who was offered the part first. I love Robert Redford, but as Michael Corleone or Benjamin Braddock? I don't think so. Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as Thelma and Louise? Ok, maybe. Shirley MacLaine as Bonnie Parker, playing opposite her brother Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrow? Wisely, she said no - talk about creepy! Good, fun book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

For movie lovers thas is a very interesting book about the people who didn't get various movie roles and the circumstances that caused that to happen.