Casting Might-Have-Beens
A Film by Film Directory of Actors Considered for Roles Given to Others
EILA MELL
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE
BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE
e-ISBN: 978-1-4766-0976-8
©2005 Eila Mell. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
On the cover: background ©2004 Thinkstock; clockwise from top: Jessica Biel, Maria Conchita
Alonso, Kelly McGillis, Aidan Quinn, Brandon Lee
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
For Jack and Erin
CONTENTS
Preface
The Films and Roles
Notes
List of Names and Terms
PREFACE
Screenwriter William Goldman has said that actors become stars by accident. Would Al Pacino be the
star he is today had Robert Redford accepted the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather? Then
there’s Humphrey Bogart, who practically owes his career to George Raft. Bogart made the following
films Raft rejected: Dead End, It All Came True, The Maltese Falcon, High Sierra, All Through the
Night, and Casablanca. Bogart is a legend; if not for Raft we might not even remember him.
Then there are the future stars who are turned down for roles. Imagine Tom Hanks rejecting Uma
Thurman, saying that acting with her was like acting in a high school play. It’s true! This was before
Pulp Fiction made her an A-list actress and got her an Oscar nomination. Thurman auditioned to play
opposite Hanks in The Bonfire of the Vanities. Although director Brian De Palma was interested in
her, Hanks had casting approval, and Melanie Griffith (hot from Working Girl) was cast instead.
Casting Might-Have-Beens is full of such stories. The information was obtained through extensive
research (see Notes section) and interviews.
The book is arranged alphabetically by film title (giving date). The actor who played the role is first
listed along with the character’s name. Immediately following, in parentheses, are the actors
considered for the role, followed by one or more paragraphs telling the story behind the casting
decision. Copious source notes accompany the entries, beginning on page 263; they are indicated by
superscript numbers, which start over with each new letter of the alphabet.
An index of all actors, whether cast or considered, concludes the work.
In the book Live from New York, Lisa Kudrow gives some insight to the actor’s point of view:
“There’ve been a couple of things that I didn’t get or got fired from, where friends who had a little
more experience said, ‘It’s always a blessing when a door closes because another door’s going to
open.’”
Casting Might-Have-Beens gives you the chance to picture, for example, Danny Thomas as the
Godfather, Michael Jackson as Edward Scissorhands, or Marilyn Monroe as Cleopatra. Imagine how
different your favorite films might have been!
THE FILMS AND ROLES
About Last Night (1986)
Rob Lowe as Danny (Dan Aykroyd)
James Belushi as Bernie (John Belushi)
Paramount Pictures asked Saturday Night Live co-stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd to star in About
Last Night. The movie was based on David Mamet’s play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Belushi’s
younger brother, Jim Belushi, starred in the play. When John Belushi asked his brother how he would
feel if he took the role in the film, Jim said that it would kill him. John Belushi turned the part down.1
The movie was made a few years later with Jim who had, by that time, made a name for himself on the
same show that made his late brother (John died of a drug overdose in 1982) famous—Saturday Night
Live.
Above Suspicion (1943)
Fred MacMurray as Richard Myles (Clark Gable)
Clark Gable turned down Fred MacMurray’s role in Above Suspicion.2
Abraham Lincoln (1930)
Kay Hammond as Mary Todd Lincoln (Una Merkel)
Una Merkel was originally cast as Mary Todd Lincoln. Director D.W. Griffith later changed his mind.
He gave the part of Mary Todd Lincoln to Kay Hammond, while Merkel was switched over to the part
of Ann Rutledge.3
Una Merkel switched roles in Abraham Lincoln.
Absence of Malice (1982)
Paul Newman as Michael Gallagher (Al Pacino)
Sally Field as Megan Carter (Diane Keaton)
Director Sydney Pollack originally wanted Al Pacino to star as libeled businessman Michael
Gallagher in Absence of Malice. The two had previously worked together when Pacino starred in
Pollack’s 1977 film, Bobby Deerfield. Pacino agreed to take on the part of Gallagher. Soon after,
Pacino dropped out unexpectedly. Pollack replaced him with Paul Newman.4
Diane Keaton was offered the part of Megan Carter. Keaton turned it down. Sally Field was cast in her
place.5
Absolute Power (1997)
Ed Harris as Seth Frank (Clint Eastwood)
Clint Eastwood was initially sent the script of Absolute Power with the thought of him playing the role
of detective Seth Frank. Eastwood read the script written by William Goldman. He liked it, but had a
problem with the part of Seth. Eastwood felt that this role was something he had done many times
before. Instead, Eastwood wanted to play thief Luther Whitney. In Goldman’s screenplay Luther dies
halfway through the film. If Eastwood were to star he would have to be in the film all the way through.
Goldman altered the script to suit Eastwood and the actor signed on for the part. The role of Seth
Frank was given to Ed Harris.6
The Accidental Tourist (1988)
William Hurt as Macon Leary (Kevin Costner)
Geena Davis as Muriel Pritchett (Ellen Barkin, Colleen Camp, Kate Capshaw, Laura Dern, Melanie
Griffith, Amy Madigan, Mary Steenburgen, Victoria Tennant, Jo Beth Williams)
All of the above actresses auditioned for the part of Muriel Pritchett. Ellen Barkin had a particularly
difficult time at the audition. She has said that during her reading she was just waiting for it to be
over, and was disappointed because she felt she was letting down William Hurt and director Lawrence
Kasdan.7 She told Entertainment Weekly that her audition was “terrible,” and that she thought the part
was very difficult to audition for.8
Kevin Costner was offered the starring role of Macon. He didn’t want it, and it went instead to
William Hurt.9
The Accused (1988)
Jodie Foster as Sarah Tobias (Rosanna Arquette, Kelly McGillis, Demi Moore, Meg Ryan, Meg Tilly)
Director Jonathan Kaplan wanted Kelly McGillis to star in The Accused as rape victim Sarah Tobias.
McGillis refused the role. Some years earlier McGillis had been raped, and she felt that taking the part
would be very painful. Kaplan still wanted McGillis in the film, and gave her the other starring role of
lawyer Kathryn Murphy. Jodie Foster, whose career was in a slump at the time, desperately wanted the
part of Sarah. The former child star of the 1970s, who received an Oscar nomination for her
performance in 1976’s Taxi Driver, was coming off a string of forgettable films in the 1980s.
According to the actress, if she did not land the part in The Accused she was going to quit acting
entirely and go to graduate school. Foster was at a disadvantage, because the executives at Paramount
refused to even let her audition. Foster went to New York to meet with producer Stanley Jaffe. Jaffe
was not sure that Foster was pretty enough to star in his film. After meeting with Foster Jaffe agreed
to let her audition. Foster read the next day and wowed Jonathan Kaplan. The studio still had
reservations about hiring her and continued to see other actresses. Demi Moore, Rosanna Arquette,
Meg Tilly and Meg Ryan all auditioned. Co-star Kelly McGillis stepped in. McGillis was a big star
and Paramount needed her. McGillis said that she would quit if Foster was not given the part. A week
before shooting was set to begin Foster was cast.10 The Accused earned her a second Oscar nomination
—and this time she won the award. Foster’s career has been going strong ever since: She went on to
win a second Academy Award for 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs, and also began directing films.
Kelly McGillis has made few films of note since the 1980s and seems to have faded from the
Hollywood scene. In 1988, she married Fred Tillman. In addition to raising two daughters, McGillis
opened a restaurant called Kelly’s in Key West, Florida. In 1999, she reemerged with a supporting role
in the film At First Sight. McGillis’ return was especially notable, because the film’s star was Val
Kilmer, who played a supporting role in Top Gun, McGillis’ biggest hit.
Jodie Foster has Kelly McGillis (above) to thank for her Academy Award for The Accused.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
Jim Carrey as Ace Ventura (Whoopi Goldberg, Rick Moranis, Judd Nelson, Alan Rickman)
Courteney Cox as Melissa Robinson (Lauren Holly)
Rick Moranis was the first choice to play the title role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Moranis turned
it down, and Judd Nelson and Alan Rickman were both considered. At one point the producers
contemplated changing the role to a female and casting Whoopi Goldberg.11 Eventually Jim Carrey
caught their attention. At the time Carrey was on the sketch comedy show In Living Color. Carrey had
many memorable characters including the audience favorite Fire Marshall Bill. Carrey won the role
and the film made him a big star.
In 1986 Lauren Holly joined the cast of the soap opera All My Children. One of her fans was an
unknown Jim Carrey. Holly screen tested to play Melissa Robinson opposite Carrey’s Ace Ventura.
Her audition was impressive, and Holly was offered the role. Holly couldn’t know that the film was
going to be the blockbuster it turned out to be, and said no. She later admitted that she made the wrong
decision. A few months later Holly was once again offered the chance to star opposite Carrey—this
time in the film Dumb & Dumber. Holly took the part this time, which turned out to be a good
decision. Dumb & Dumber was a runaway hit at the box office. Additionally, Holly and Carrey fell in
love during the filming. The two married in 1996, but were divorced less than a year later.
Across 110th Street (1972)
Yaphet Kotto as Lt. Pope (Sidney Poitier)
Paul Benjamin as Jim Harris (Harry Belafonte)
Antonio Fargas as Henry J. Jackson (Sammy Davis, Jr.)
Not only did Anthony Quinn star in Across 110th Street as corrupt cop Captain Matteli, but he was
also the co-executive producer. Quinn wanted to cast big stars for the other roles and hired Sidney
Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Shooting was on location in Harlem. The community
objected to Quinn’s choice of actors. They felt that these actors were from Hollywood, and were not
familiar with the city streets. They wondered how they could accurately portray life in their
community. Quinn knew that without the support of the community filming would be extremely
difficult. He decided to take their and advice and recast the roles with Yaphet Kotto, Paul Benjamin,
and Antonio Fargas.12
Act One (1963)
George Hamilton as Moss Hart (Warren Beatty)
Act One was the life story of playwright Moss Hart. The producers thought Warren Beatty would be a
good choice to play Hart. Beatty wasn’t interested in taking the part, and turned down the offer. The
role went instead to George Hamilton.13
The Actress (1953)
Jean Simmons as Ruth Gordon (Debbie Reynolds)
Teresa Wright as Annie Jones (Maureen Stapleton)
Debbie Reynolds was MGM and director George Cukor’s choice to play Ruth Gordon in her
autobiographical film, The Actress.14 After some time Cukor began to have his doubts about the
actress. He thought that although she had some of the right qualities for the part, she was lacking in
other areas. He especially didn’t like that she wasn’t familiar with Shakespeare. He didn’t think her
test was all that good, and gave the part to Jean Simmons instead.15
Maureen Stapleton was offered the role of Annie Jones. She wasn’t interested and turned the part
down. She was replaced by Teresa Wright.16
The Addams Family (1991)
Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams (Cher)
Cher turned down the part of Morticia Addams in The Addams Family.17 Anjelica Huston played it
instead. The Addams Family was a big hit. So much so, that a sequel was made two years later called
Addams Family Values.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989)
John Neville as Baron Munchausen (Sean Connery)
Robin Williams as King of the Moon (Sean Connery)
Sean Connery was considered for the role of the Baron. It was later decided that he would instead play
the King of the Moon. Because of changes in the script Connery was no longer interested in playing
the role and dropped out.18
The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938)
Gary Cooper as Marco Polo (Douglas Fairbanks)
Sigrid Gurie as Princess Kukachin (Merle Oberon)
It was Douglas Fairbanks’ idea to make a film about Marco Polo. He planned it as a vehicle for
himself to star in. Eventually, he decided against playing Marco Polo, and instead was going to
produce the film.19 Ultimately, Fairbanks dropped out of the film entirely. The role was taken by Gary
Cooper when the film was later produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by Archie Mayo.
Merle Oberon was a consideration to play Princess Kukachin. At the time Oberon was working in
England for Alexander Korda. Goldwyn decided to give the part to Sigrid Gurie instead.20
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
Rosario Dawson as Dina Lake (Halle Berry)
Halle Berry dropped out of The Adventures of Pluto Nash because the film’s schedule would interfere
with her wedding to Eric Benet. Rosario Dawson was brought in as a replacement.21
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Olivia De Havilland as Maid Marian (Anita Louise)
Anita Louise was the first choice for the role of Maid Marian. But audiences really liked Errol Flynn
paired up with Olivia De Havilland.22 The two had previously co-starred in A Dream Come True
(1935), The Irish in Us (1935), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935). The producers wanted to cast
the actress the audience wanted to see, and Louise was out.
Anita Louise almost got to play Maid Marian in The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Affectionately Yours (1941)
Merle Oberon as Sue Mayberry (Bette Davis, Olivia De Havilland)
Bette Davis was the original choice for the part of Sue Mayberry in Affectionately Yours.23 Davis
didn’t make the film, and Olivia De Havilland was made an offer. She decided against making the
film. The role was eventually played by Merle Oberon.24
The African Queen (1951)
Humphrey Bogart as Charlie Allnut (Charles Laughton)
Katharine Hepburn as Rose Sayer (Bette Davis, Deborah Kerr, Elsa Lanchester)
Columbia Pictures was the first studio to own the rights to The African Queen. It was, at that time, a
project for the husband and wife team of Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester.25 In 1939 the studio
sold the rights to Warner Bros. Deborah Kerr was interested in the part of Rose. She went to MGM’s
Dore Schary to inquire about the film rights. Schary told her Warner Bros. already had them.26
Warner Bros. planned to make the film with Bette Davis.27 Bette Davis ultimately didn’t work out,
and Warners sold it to 20th Century–Fox. John Huston was assigned to direct. Huston cast Katharine
Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in the lead roles.
Agnes Browne (1999)
Anjelica Huston as Agnes Browne (Rosie O’Donnell)
Anjelica Huston set out to turn writer Brendan O’Carroll’s book, The Mammy, into a film. She
contacted Rosie O’Donnell about playing the lead role of an Irish mother. O’Donnell seriously
considered the offer, but ultimately decided she would rather spend the summer with her family.
Huston decided along with directing the movie, she would also become its star. The name of the film
was changed to Agnes Browne.
Air Force One (1997)
Harrison Ford as James Marshall (Kevin Costner)
Producer Armyan Bernstein asked Kevin Costner to play President James Marshall in Air Force One.
Costner was interested, but he had just finished shooting Waterworld. He was also in the process of
getting divorced from his wife of about sixteen years, Cindy Silva. The actor requested a year off, and
then he would make the film. Bernstein also made an offer to Harrison Ford. Like Costner, Ford would
make the movie but needed a year off. Ford wanted to make the film Six Days, Seven Nights for
Disney. Bernstein made a deal with Disney which resulted in Air Force One shooting before Six Days,
Seven Nights. Costner was out, and Ford played the president.28
Airplane! (1980)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Roger Murdock (Pete Rose)
The role of Roger Murdock was written for Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose. However, the film was
scheduled to shoot in the summer. Being a professional baseball player, Rose was unavailable during
the summertime. The role went to another sports star—the NBA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The Alamo (2004)
Dennis Quaid as Sam Houston (Russell Crowe)
Patrick Wilson as William Barrett Travis (Ethan Hawke)
Ron Howard was originally going to direct The Alamo. His A Beautiful Mind star Russell Crowe was
set to star as General Sam Houston. Howard’s producing partner, Brian Grazer was going to act as
producer. The team asked for so much money that Disney was unable to make a deal. John Lee
Hancock signed on to replace Howard as director. Like Howard, Hancock cast the star from his latest
hit, The Rookie, in the lead role (Dennis Quaid). Ethan Hawke had been considered for the part of
William Barrett Travis, but Hancock gave the part to Broadway star Patrick Wilson instead.29
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997)
Ryan O’Neal as James Edmunds (Mickey Rourke)
Eric Idle as Alan Smithee (Mick Jagger, Michael York)
Richard Jeni as Jerry Glover (David Paymer)
Jackie Chan as Himself (Bruce Willis)
Whoopi Goldberg as Herself (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
Mick Jagger, Michael York, David Paymer and Mickey Rourke were all considered for roles in An
Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn.30
Bruce Willis was asked to play himself in the film. Willis said no and was replaced by Jackie Chan.31
Writer Joe Eszterhas tried to get Arnold Schwarzenegger to play himself. He wrote the actor a letter,
but Schwarzenegger never responded. Whoopi Goldberg heard about the film and expressed interest.
Eszterhas publicly said that Goldberg would replace Schwarzenegger. He added that she would be
much better than he would have.32
Alfie (1966)
Michael Caine as Alfie Elkins (James Booth, Laurence Harvey, Anthony Newley, Terence Stamp)
Alfie began in 1964 as a Broadway play. Although the show was not a success, a film version was
being planned. Director Lewis Gilbert wanted the actor who created the role on stage—Terence Stamp
—to star. He offered Stamp the role. Stamp had no interest in taking the part. His experience with
Alfie had not been good, and he wanted to end his association with the character. At this time Stamp
was staying with a friend of his, another actor by the name of Michael Caine. Caine spent hours trying
to convince his friend to take the part. Stamp would not budge. Gilbert offered the part to Anthony
Newley, Laurence Harvey, and James Booth. All three actors rejected the role. Finally, Gilbert made
an offer to Stamp’s friend Michael Caine. Caine jumped at the opportunity.33 The film went on to be a
hit, and made Michael Caine a star. He received his first Academy Award nomination for his
performance, but lost out to Paul Scofield, who won for the film A Man for All Seasons.
Algiers (1938)
Hedy Lamarr as Gaby [aka Gabrielle] (Dolores del Rio, Sylvia Sidney)
Sigrid Gurie as Ines (Sylvia Sidney)
Producer Walter Wanger wanted either Dolores del Rio or Sylvia Sidney for the role of Gaby,
eventually played by Hedy Lamarr.34 Sidney was also considered for the role of Ines, but Sidney felt
that she had played that type of character many times before, and it went to Sigrid Gurie instead.35
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1975)
Ellen Burstyn as Alice Hyatt (Barbra Streisand)
Barbra Streisand was offered the starring role of Alice. At the age of 33, Streisand felt the part was too
old for her, and said no.36 The 43 year old Ellen Burstyn said yes, and won an Academy Award for the
role.
Alice in Wonderland (1933)
Charlotte Henry as Alice (Ida Lupino)
Paramount Pictures saw Ida Lupino in a film called Money for Speed, and thought that she might be
right for the title role of Alice. They later decided that she did not come off innocent enough and cast
Charlotte Henry instead.37
Alice’s Restaurant (1969)
Patricia Quinn as Alice Brock (Alice Brock)
Alice Brock, the real-life Alice of Alice’s Restaurant, turned down the chance to play herself in the
movie. Brock, who was not a professional actress, felt that there was no reason for her to recreate for
film what she had already done in real life. Pat Quinn was cast in her place.38
Alien (1979)
Sigourney Weaver as Ripley (Jill Clayburgh)
John Hurt as Kane (Brad Davis)
Jill Clayburgh had the chance to star in Alien. She turned it down. Sigourney Weaver was cast instead.
Alien was Weaver’s breakthrough film.39
Brad Davis rejected the part of Kane, eventually played by John Hurt.40
All About Eve (1950)
Bette Davis as Margo Channing (Ingrid Bergman, Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford, Marlene
Dietrich, Joan Fontaine, Greer Garson, Paulette Goddard, Susan Hayward, Katharine Hepburn, Hedy
Lamarr, Gertrude Lawrence, Ginger Rogers, Rosalind Russell, Norma Shearer, Barbara Stanwyck,
Gloria Swanson)
Anne Baxter as Eve Harrington (June Allyson, Ann Blyth, Jeanne Crain, Olivia De Havilland, Mona
Freeman, Donna Reed, Elizabeth Taylor)
George Sanders as Addison De Witt (Jose Ferrer, Charles Laughton, Adolphe Menjou, Vincent Price,
Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, Clifton Webb)
Celeste Holm as Karen Richards (Barbara Bel Geddes, Shirley Booth, Arlene Dahl, Joan Fontaine,
Patricia Neal, Nancy Reagan, Alexis Smith, Ann Sothern, Margaret Sullavan, Jessica Tandy, Ruth
Warrick)
Gary Merrill as Bill Sampson (Montgomery Clift, Robert Cummings, Glenn Ford, John Garfield,
William Holden, Edmond O’Brien, Ronald Reagan, Zachary Scott, Robert Young)
Hugh Marlowe as Lloyd Richards (William Lundigan)
Gregory Ratoff as Max Fabian (Fred Clark, George Jessel, Zero Mostel, Walter Slezak, Everett
Sloane)
Barbara Bates as Phoebe (Zsa Zsa Gabor)
Marilyn Monroe as Claudia Caswell (Lois Andrews, Karin Booth, Barbara Britton, Leslie Brooks,
Myrna Dell, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Angela Greene, Adele Jergens, Pat Knight, Angela Lansbury, Joi Lansing,
Ellie Marshall, Marian Marshall, Marilyn Maxwell, Marie McDonald, Mary Meade, Cleo Moore,
Dolores Moran, Joyce Reynolds, Marjorie Reynolds, Gale Robbins, Rowena Rollins, Randy Stuart,
Virginia Toland, Arleen Whelan)
Many of the choices above are actors that were put on a list of possibilities by the 20th Century–Fox
casting director to be presented to the director of All About Eve, Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Not all the
actors were auditioned. Many were eliminated by Mankiewicz immediately. Nancy Reagan (then
known as Nancy Davis) never even knew she was considered for the film!41 Others tested, and were
later eliminated.
Darryl F. Zanuck originally considered Claudette Colbert, Barbara Stanwyck, and Marlene Dietrich
for the role of Margo Channing.42 He finally decided on Colbert, who eagerly signed on for the film.
Before filming was set to begin Colbert had an accident. She suffered a ruptured disc and was put in
traction.43
Zanuck expressed interest in Marlene Dietrich. Mankiewicz thought she was wrong for the part.
Zanuck relented.44 He suggested Susan Hayward. Again Mankiewicz disagreed with Zanuck. He
thought that Hayward was too young to play the aging star. The actress Mankiewicz liked was stage
star Gertrude Lawrence. She was sent a copy of the script. She was very enthusiastic after reading it.
However she insisted on making two changes. She wanted all of Margo’s drinking scenes taken out.
The second request was regarding the party scene. Lawrence said that instead of the piano player
playing Liebestraum, he would play Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s Bill, which was to be
sung by Lawrence. After all this, Lawrence ended up turning the part down.45 Ingrid Bergman was
briefly considered,46 but Zanuck knew who he wanted—Bette Davis.
Jeanne Crain was the original choice for Eve Harrington. When she became pregnant, Anne Baxter
inherited the role.47
Zanuck’s first choice for Addison De Witt was Jose Ferrer. Ferrer was unavailable for the film and
George Sanders was cast instead.48
Zanuck’s first choice for the role of Margo Channing’s boyfriend Bill Sampson was John Garfield.49
Garfield lost the role to Gary Merrill, who married co-star Bette Davis shortly after making the film.
William Lundigan was mentioned early on for the part of Lloyd Richards.50
The 20th Century–Fox casting director made a long list of possible Claudia Caswells, as depicted
above. One contender was Zsa Zsa Gabor. Gabor’s husband, George Sanders, was cast as Addison
DeWitt. Gabor was eager to join the cast. The part she wanted was Phoebe.51 Joseph L. Mankiewicz
preferred Barbara Bates, but did consider Gabor for Miss Caswell. Mankiewicz ultimately passed her
over in favor of a still relatively unknown Marilyn Monroe.
All Night Long (1981)
Barbra Streisand as Cheryl Gibbons (Loni Anderson, Lisa Eichhorn)
All Night Long went into production with Lisa Eichhorn in the role of Cheryl Gibbons, even though
Universal Studios had suggested Loni Anderson.52 Early on director Jean-Claude Tramont felt there
were problems with Eichhorn’s characterization. He went on to say it was not a matter of her acting
ability. He just felt that this part was too much of a reach for her. Eichhorn claimed that Tramont said
that she wasn’t funny. It didn’t help Eichhorn’s chances of staying in the film that Barbra Streisand
expressed an interest in the part. Tramont, who was married to Streisand’s agent, felt that she had the
right natural quality he was looking for and replaced Eichhorn with her. Eichhorn said that she was
shocked to have been fired.53
Lisa Eichhorn’s role in All Night Long was coveted by Barbra Streisand.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Beryl Mercer as Mrs. Baumer (ZaSu Pitts)
All Quiet on the Western Front was originally shot with ZaSu Pitts in the role of Mrs. Baumer.
Because of her reputation as a comedienne, preview audiences laughed during her scenes despite her
serious portrayal. Based on this reaction, the studio believed that audiences would not accept her in
this dramatic role. They played it safe and reshot her scenes with Beryl Mercer.54
ZaSu Pitts was so funny she actually lost a job (All Quiet on the Western Front).
All That Jazz (1979)
Roy Scheider as Joe Gideon (Alan Alda, Alan Bates, Warren Beatty, Robert Blake, Richard Dreyfuss,
Bob Fosse, Elliott Gould, Gene Hackman, Jack Lemmon, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, George
Segal, Jon Voight)
Leland Palmer as Audrey Paris (Shirley MacLaine)
All That Jazz was loosely based on the life of Broadway choreographer/director Bob Fosse. In the
film, there is a Fosse-like character named Joe Gideon. Richard Dreyfuss was originally cast as Joe
Gideon. Although Dreyfuss was not a dancer, the film’s director (Guess who? Bob Fosse himself!)
assured him that he would make it work for him. Fosse even decided to have Dreyfuss play the
choreographer without the actor ever having to dance at all. Still, Richard Dreyfuss was uncomfortable
with the role and with Bob Fosse himself. Dreyfuss accompanied Fosse to the dance rehearsals. Fosse
confided to the actor that he was not getting the performances he wanted out of the dancers. Dreyfuss
suggested ways to work with the dancers, and Fosse accused Dreyfuss of saying that Fosse was not a
competent director. Dreyfuss was stunned at this comment. Fosse persisted until Dreyfuss finally said
that, yes, he didn’t think Fosse knew what he was doing. Dreyfuss quit the production, stating that the
problem was an inability to work together. Years later Dreyfuss admits that he had made a mistake
passing up the opportunity to work with Fosse.55
After Dreyfuss left, many actors were considered for the role including Robert Blake, Jack Nicholson,
Elliott Gould, and George Segal. Sidney Lumet suggested Alan Alda and Gene Hackman. Producer
Daniel Melnick contacted Paul Newman. But Newman was uncomfortable playing a dancer, and never
bothered to read the script. Alan Bates was considered as was Jack Lemmon, but Bates was thought to
be too “British” and Lemmon was too old for the role. Jon Voight was being wooed for the part. Fosse
watched a copy of Voight’s film, Coming Home, and decided that the actor was wrong for the part.
Warren Beatty was interested as long as Joe Gideon didn’t die at the end. Even Bob Fosse wanted the
part. He wanted to test for Daniel Melnick who refused. Melnick stated that Fosse (who had a history
of heart problems) would not survive the shoot, and he didn’t want that on his head. Fosse realized
that he had no chance to get the part, and concentrated on finding a suitable actor. Agent Sam Cohn
recommended Roy Scheider. A meeting was scheduled with Fosse and writer/producer Robert Alan
Aurthur. They liked Scheider immediately. Melnick flew into New York to discuss the matter. He
decided that Scheider wasn’t right for the part. Melnick didn’t think the actor was appealing enough.
Fosse told Melnick that he would spend a week working with Scheider. At the end of that week Fosse
met with Melnick. Fosse said that he wasn’t positive that Scheider would be believable playing a
dancer, but that he saw something in the actor, and urged Melnick to give him the part. Melnick
trusted Fosse, and finally agreed to cast Scheider.56
Bob Fosse briefly considered Shirley MacLaine for the role of Audrey Paris, which was loosely based
on Gwen Verdon, Fosse’s ex-wife.57
All the King’s Men (1949)
Broderick Crawford as Willie Stark (Spencer Tracy)
The head of Columbia, Harry Cohn, wanted Spencer Tracy for the starring role of Willie Stark.
Writer/director Robert Rossen disagreed with Cohn’s choice. Rossen thought that audiences might
like Tracy too much. He gave the part to Broderick Crawford instead. Crawford’s performance was
critically praised. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film.58
All the Pretty Horses (2000)
Matt Damon as John Grady Cole (Leonardo DiCaprio, Nick Stahl)
For his first post–Titanic movie, Leonardo DiCaprio considered playing the lead role of John Grady
Cole in All the Pretty Horses. It was reported at the time that DiCaprio was dragging his feet in
committing to the film. The producers decided to not wait around for his decision and ultimately cast
Matt Damon instead.59 Damon was in great demand after the success of Good Will Hunting. Lesserknown actor Nick Stahl also read for the part of John Grady Cole. Stahl told Movieline magazine that
losing this part to Damon hurt him very much.60
Nick Stahl wanted the part of John Grady Cole in All the Pretty Horses.
All Through the Night (1942)
Humphrey Bogart as Gloves Donahue (George Raft)
George Raft was offered the starring role of Gloves Donahue in All Through the Night. Raft, who has a
long history of turning parts down, was uninterested. He let this role go to Humphrey Bogart.61 Many
of Bogart’s most memorable roles had previously been rejected by Raft including Rick Blaine in
Casablanca, Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon, Baby Face Martin in Dead End, Roy Earle in High
Sierra, and Chips Maguire in It All Came True.
Almost Famous (2000)
Billy Crudup as Russell Hammond (Roy Dupuis)
Kate Hudson as Penny Lane (Sarah Polley)
Zooey Deschanel as Anita Miller (Kate Hudson)
Roy Dupuis was asked to audition for the role of Russell Hammond. Dupuis didn’t think the film was
important, and turned down the audition.62 Director Cameron Crowe cast Billy Crudup instead.
Cameron Crowe wanted Sarah Polley to play Band-Aid Penny Lane. Polley declined his offer. Kate
Hudson was cast as teenage writer Will Miller’s sister Anita. When she learned that the role of Penny
Lane was free she went to Crowe and asked for an audition. Crowe thought her audition was great and
gave her the part.63 Almost Famous was Hudson’s big break. She quickly became an A-list star with
her pick of parts. Hudson was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Almost Famous, but lost
out to Marcia Gay Harden (for Pollock).
Cameron Crowe wanted Sarah Polley as Penny Lane in Almost Famous.
The Alphabet Murders (1966)
Tony Randall as Hercule Poirot (Zero Mostel)
It was Zero Mostel’s idea to make a film in which he would play Agatha Christie’s famed detective,
Hercule Poirot. Mostel was so serious about playing the part, that he left his starring role of Pseudolus
in the Broadway production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in order to make the
film. A script called The ABC Murders was presented to the actor. Mostel was dissatisfied with the
script and wanted to write his own version. MGM decided against this. They made the film (which
was retitled The Alphabet Murders) with Tony Randall as Hercule Poirot.64 Mostel filled the gap left
in his schedule by creating the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway. Mostel never got to
play Poirot, although Peter Ustinov, Albert Finney, and Dudley Jones all played the part in movies
throughout the 1970s and 80s.
Always (1989)
Richard Dreyfuss as Pete Sandich (Paul Newman, Robert Redford)