Acknowledgments
I thank the members of the Arnold Madison Writing Group for their support and encouragement, especially Jackie Craven, David Drotar, Joyce Hunt, Joanne McFadden, and Donna Tomb.
I appreciated the special assistance provided by Karen DeMartino; my agent, Steve Harris; and staff members of the Crandall Public Library and Waterford Public Library. As always, I am endlessly grateful to George.
I thank the wonderful staff at Rowman & Littlefield/Globe Pequot Press. I especially thank my editor, Rick Rinehart, for introducing me to his mother, Sharon Caulfield, who shared wonderful stories about Hollywood, Intermezzo, and Gone With the Wind.
Source List
The author thanks the following sources, which were invaluable during the writing of this book.
Books
Bartel, Pauline. The Complete GONE WITH THE WIND Trivia Book (2nd edition). Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., 2014.
Behlmer, Rudy, ed. Memo from David O. Selznick. New York: Viking Press, 1972.
Cameron, Judy, and Paul Christman. The Art of GONE WITH THE WIND: The Making of a Legend. Prentice Hall Editions, 1989.
Edwards, Anne. Vivien Leigh: A Biography. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1977.
Flamini, Roland. Scarlett, Rhett and a Cast of Thousands. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1975.
Harmetz, Aljean. On the Road to Tara. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1996.
Harwell, Richard, ed. Margaret Mitchells GONE WITH THE WIND Letters 19361949. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976.
Haver, Ronald. David O. Selznicks GONE WITH THE WIND. New York: Bonanza Books, 1986.
Howard, Sidney. GONE WITH THE WIND: The Screenplay Based on the Novel by Margaret Mitchell. New York: Dell Publishing, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1989.
Lambert, Gavin. GWTW: The Making of GONE WITH THE WIND. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1973.
Mitchell, Margaret. Gone with the Wind. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1936.
Myrick, Susan. White Columns in Hollywood: Reports from the GONE WITH THE WIND Sets. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1994.
Pratt, William. Scarlett Fever: The Ultimate Pictorial Treasury of GONE WITH THE WIND. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1977.
Thomas, Bob. Selznick. New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1950.
Thomson, David. Showman: The Life of David O. Selznick. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
Tornabene, Lyn. Long Live the King: A Biography of Clark Gable. New York: G. P. Putnams Sons, 1976.
Walker, Alexander. The Life of Vivien Leigh. New York: Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1987.
Wiley, John Jr., ed. The Scarlett Letters: The Making of the Film GONE WITH THE WIND. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing, an imprint of Rowman & Little-field Publishing Group, Inc., 2014.
Wilson, Steve. The Making of GONE WITH THE WIND. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2014.
Internet Sources/Periodicals
Harry Ransom Center (www.hrc.utexas.edu)
Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com)
Newspapers (www.newspapers.com)
The Scarlett Letter
Turner Classic Movies (www.tcm.com)
January 1939
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1:
In the Spotlight: | Everett Brown (Big Sam) celebrated his 37th birthday. Thomas T. Moulton (sound director) celebrated his 43rd birthday. |
Behind the Scenes: | Vivien Leigh toasted New Years Day knowing that she had been cast to play Scarlett. She learned the news on Christmas Day from director George Cukor during a luncheon at his home that Leigh attended with beau Laurence Olivier. Leigh and Olivier lived apart in Hollywood, for the sake of appearances. From his suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Olivier penned a New Years Day note to her. He sketched her image on the envelope as a simulated British stamp and identified her as Queen Scarlett. |
In the News: | Syndicated Hollywood columnist Sheilah Graham discussed the blockbuster films Hollywood studios planned for 1939, including producer David O. Selznicks Gone With the Wind (GWTW). She noted that Selznick spent fifty thousand dollars for the movie rights to the bestseller. Entertainment reporter and syndicated columnist Ed Sullivan reported in his New York Daily News column that, at the end of 1938, Clark Gable remained the worlds number one heartthrob and Hollywoods number two box office moneymaker, second only to Shirley Temple. Two important films for Gable in 1939Idiots Delight and Gone With the Windgive him the best January 1 box office starting position of his career. |
MONDAY, JANUARY 2:
In the Spotlight: | No known cast or crew birthdays. |
Behind the Scenes: | In a letter to friends, Margaret Mitchell wrote that she and husband John Marsh celebrated Christmas with a family dinner and visits to friends. The quiet holiday was especially fun for Mitchell because the people she met treated her as a person rather than as a celebrity author. She predicted that public interest in her would surge over the next few weeks after Selznick reveals his choice of the actress to play Scarlett. |
In the News: | Ed Sullivan reported information he sourced directly from Selznick: The actress selected for Scarlett will be announced by the weeks end, and GWTWs filming will begin on January 16. In a related item, Sullivan predicted that 1939 will see Carole Lombard become Mrs. Clark Gable. |
TUESDAY, JANUARY 3:
In the Spotlight: | Ray Milland, who was considered for Ashley, celebrated his 32nd birthday. Pola Negri, who was considered for Scarlett, celebrated her 42nd birthday. |
Behind the Scenes: | Rumors ricocheted around Hollywood that Selznick had selected Vivien Leigh for Scarlett. |
In the News: | The San Francisco Examiner reported that Jean Arthur would be announced for Scarlett and that Walter Connolly was the top contender for Gerald OHara. Sheilah Graham reported that a director dilemma has delayed GWTWs start date: Gable wants Victor Fleming behind the camera instead of George Cukor. |
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4:
In the Spotlight: | Elmer Ellsworth (associate wardrobe supervisor, uncredited) celebrated his 39th birthday. |
Behind the Scenes: | Selznick sent a confidential memo to John Hay Jock Whitney, chairman of the board of Selznick International Pictures (SIP), along with a draft statement announcing Leigh for the role of Scarlett. Selznick urged him to keep the information confidential. |
In the News: | Syndicated Hollywood columnist Louella O. Parsons reported that cinematographer Lee Garmes departed England bound for Hollywood to work on GWTW. |
THURSDAY, JANUARY 5:
In the Spotlight: | George Reeves (Stuart Tarleton) celebrated his 25th birthday. Jane Wyman, who was considered for Scarlett, celebrated her 22nd birthday. |
Behind the Scenes: | English friends of Leigh and Olivier sent Vivien a telegram offering their congratulations and love for winning the role of Scarlett. The senders included film actor Anthony Bushnell, who had appeared with Leigh in 1937s |