It was April 1948 when director King Vidor spotted 22-year-old Patricia Neal on the Warner Bros. studio lot. A drama graduate from Northwestern University, she had just arrived in Hollywood following a Tony Award-winning performance in Lillian Hellman's Another Part of the Forest . Impressed by Patricia's looks, Vidor approached the young actress and asked if she would be interested in doing a screen test for the female lead in his newest film, The Fountainhead (1949). Gary Cooper had already signed as the male protagonist, and the studio was then considering Lauren Bacall and Barbara Stanwyck to play his love interest. Neal liked the script and about two months later, she met with the director for sound and photographic tests. Vidor was enthusiastic about Patricia, but her first audition was a complete disaster. Cooper was apparently watching her from off the set and he was so unimpressed by her performance that he commented, « What's that!? » He tried to con
Firstly, congratulations on winning first prize in the Katharine Hepburn Blogathon!! So proud of you and unbelievably well-deserved :)
ReplyDeleteSecondly, we're back at the Golden Age forum (same URL)- but you'll have to re-register. We're starting off with finishing up The Stupid, The Proud :) Can't wait to start working with you again AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Aww, thank you, sweetie. :)
DeleteYAY!! I'm so happy that the collab group is back on! I'm really, really looking forward to start working with you again too. ;)