Almost Had The Role
Film Roles That Were Filled Differently Than Planned
Dennis Quaid read with Debra Winger for the title role in "Urban
Cowboy" (1980), and was assured that he had the part of Bud. But soon
after, director James Bridges had to break the bleak news to him that
John Travolta was interested in the role. Travolta's successful track
record in films at that time meant $33 million in advance film rentals
for "Urban Cowboy." Quaid was out, Travolta was in. Being replaced in
the film embittered Quaid for a number of years, as his movie career
was going nowhere fast at the time. It didn't improve matters for
Quaid when "Urban Cowboy" was a hit at the box office.
For the role of Jake Brigance, a white lawyer defending a black man in
the big-budget film "Time to Kill" (1996), Hollywood newcomer Matthew
McConaughey was selected after Kevin Costner, Brad Pitt, Ralph
Fiennes, Bill Paxton, Aidan Quinn, Woody Harrelson, and Val Kilmer had
been seriously considered. McConaughey convinced Hollywood executives
that he was not only talented, but also had an extra dimension of that
illusive "star quality."
Ali MacGraw was a huge success in the blockbuster tear-jerker, "Love
Story" as the tragic, sassy Jenny Cavilleri. As a result, "golden
girl" MacGraw was the first choice to play Daisy in Paramount's
upcoming "The Great Gatsby" (1974). She turned down the plum role
because she was soon to wed Steve McQueen, whom she'd met and fell in
love with during filming of "The Getaway" (1972). Macho McQueen made
it clear that he expected his young wife-to-be, not yet divorced from
Robert Evans, to cut back on her film commitments once they were
married. Ultimately, the part went to Mia Farrow. Critics weren't
impressed nor kind in their appraisal of Farrow or the film. Time
magazine cruelly ripped her performance apart, calling it "...a
catastrophe. She works up a mannered creature with bulging eyes and
squeaky voice who never suggests Daisy's strength, her greed, or even
her gaiety and charm." The film had a mediocre showing at the box
office. It's tempting to speculate as to whether MacGraw as Daisy
would have saved the film, or if she, too, would have been grilled
mercilessly by reviewers because of the bland script.
Charles Laughton gave a brilliant performance as Captain Bligh in
MGM's Academy Award-winning "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935), but he
almost didn't get the part. The meaty role was originally slated for
character actor Wallace Beery. Laughton was nominated for a Best Actor
Oscar, but lost to Victor McLaglen in "The Informer." Laughton was,
however, honored by receiving a Best Actor New York Film Critics
Circle award.
Tina Turner was the first choice to play the part of the provocative
blues singer in Steven Spielberg's "The Color Purple" (1985). After
she turned it down, the role of Shug went to actress Margaret Avery,
who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
Meryl Streep won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, Golden Globe, and
New York Film Critics award for her poignant portrayal of Joanna
Kramer in the film "Kramer vs Kramer" (1979). However, the role of the
deserting mother was originally intended for Kate Jackson, a hot
property at the time due to the success of TV's The Rookies and
Charlie's Angels. Jackson turned down the part. Streep was still not
well known in the industry, but had turned in an elegant performance
as Inga Helms Weiss the previous year in the acclaimed TV mini-series
"Holocaust" For that role, she won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead
Actress in a Limited Series. Her performance in "Kramer vs Kramer"
catapulted her film career into stardom.
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