A book to celebrate GWTW’s 75th Anniversary!
On Monday, June 19, 1939, producer David O. Selznick fired off a memo to Gone With the Wind’s production units, advising them to schedule any required close-up shots and scene retakes involving Vivien Leigh for that week and to use doubles for the actress whenever possible.
He knew that she was miserable since postponing her vacation with Olivier, and Selznick feared that Leigh might be pushed over the emotional edge, if production didn’t speed up.
To move things along, William Cameron Menzies directed the second unit action in “The Attack in Shantytown” with Yakima Canutt and Blue Washington as the ruffians who accost Scarlett on the bridge, Everett Brown as Big Sam who comes to her rescue and stunt woman Aileen Goodwin who doubled for Leigh.
Happy 75th Anniversary, Gone With the Wind!
Blog Bio: Pauline Bartel is the author of The Complete GONE WITH THE WIND Trivia Book (2nd edition) and an expert on the film and its history. Visit the website (www.paulinebartel.com/resources/books/books-available) for further information. Follow her on Twitter @PaulineBartel and “like” her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheCompleteGWTWTriviaBook).