Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

[Snarky Oracle!]

I got the impression that Scarlett didn't want Ashley because she really wanted him, but because she assumed she could have him if she wanted him.
And then Leslie Howard's somewhat underwhelming physical appearance kinda makes sense to me.

In the book, Ashley's a metaphor for the old world for which Scarlett pines. In the movie, her fixation for him just seems designed to piss off Rhett.

 

[Laurie Marr]

Cooper is my favorite of the 1930s male stars and certainly better than Howard -- I think he might be too much better. Cooper as Ashley throws the story out of whack because then Scarlett preferring Ashley over Rhett makes sense. There should be a touch of delusion in Scarlett's pining for Ashley but Cooper was maybe the only star of the era more charismatic than Gable.

He was wooed to play Butler and said of that time: "It was one of the best roles ever offered in Hollywood ... But I said no. I didn't see myself as quite that dashing, and later, when I saw Clark Gable play the role to perfection, I knew I was right."

 

[Willie Oleson]

Gosh, I just realised that I have no idea who Gary Cooper is. I looked him up and his face doesn't look familiar at all.
I thought I knew him from the PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ song "dressed up like a million-dollar trouper, trying hard to look like Gary Cooper" but subconsciously I have always been thinking of Cary Grant, apparently.

 

[Toni]

Gosh, I just realised that I have no idea who Gary Cooper is. I looked him up and his face doesn't look familiar at all.
I thought I knew him from the PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ song "dressed up like a million-dollar trouper, trying hard to look like Gary Cooper" but subconsciously I have always been thinking of Cary Grant, apparently.

Cooper is the most underrated actor of his era, from today's POV. He was ultra-beautiful when he was young, ultra-charming in his comedies, and ultra-convincing in his dramas. In this case, the Academy did right by giving him 2 Oscars. For a while, I thought that Kevin Costner should have played him in a biopic. Besides, if you look at him, you can see a bit of James Dean or Brando in him (who of course debuted many years after him). He played every role with dignity and quiet strength. His career is worth discovering, and you´d be surprised many times by how versatile he was.

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[Willie Oleson]

He looks like a Baldwin!

 

[Crimson]

But I said no. I didn't see myself as quite that dashing, and later, when I saw Clark Gable play the role to perfection, I knew I was right."

Well Cooper was right in that regard. He wasn't well suited to Rhett; "scoundrel" wasn't his specialty. Cooper could have been suited for Ashley if Ashley was what Scarlett thought he was. But Ashley was a mundane fraud, not the idealistic golden boy that Scarlett imagined.

 

[Laurie Marr]

Cooper is the most underrated actor of his era, from today's POV. He was ultra-beautiful when he was young, ultra-charming in his comedies, and ultra-convincing in his dramas. In this case, the Academy did right by giving him 2 Oscars. For a while, I thought that Kevin Costner should have played him in a biopic. Besides, if you look at him, you can see a bit of James Dean or Brando in him (who of course debuted many years after him). He played every role with dignity and quiet strength. His career is worth discovering, and you´d be surprised many times by how versatile he was.

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Cooper was very beautiful in his youth. Not only did he anticipate the Deans and the Brandos in looks, but he patented a very naturalistic acting style that some would have you believe never existed prior to the 50s.

 

[ClassyCo]

They won't let you have it??

Well, it hasn't been released yet.