tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262576785828125986.post1827677536966431811..comments2023-11-07T08:13:52.007-08:00Comments on Arizona's Little Hollywood: Maureen O’Hara Jumped Out of the 'Saddle'Arizona's Little Hollywoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18403625559415226557noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262576785828125986.post-46559483881613503722010-09-28T07:44:51.084-07:002010-09-28T07:44:51.084-07:00Junebug, the ad from the 1944 RKO exhibitors book ...Junebug, the ad from the 1944 RKO exhibitors book speaks for itself so I stand by my post.<br /><br />I can't tell you why the information about Ms. O'Hara's casting in "Tall in the Saddle" has not been published before. The exhibitors book is easy to find in the collections of film archives; I first came across a copy years ago.<br /><br />I'm sure you're aware that many announced film projects and castings don't actually happen. As case in point, the same 1944 exhibitors book trumpets RKO's production of "The Robe" and that film didn't hit theaters until 1953––made by Twentieth Century–Fox.<br /><br />When you next speak with Ms. O'Hara, please ask what she recalls of the announcement of her casting in "Tall in the Saddle." I'd love to hear what she says, so please forward her comments!Arizona's Little Hollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18403625559415226557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262576785828125986.post-15505994985493036722010-09-28T06:19:52.560-07:002010-09-28T06:19:52.560-07:00I don't know where the author secured this inf...I don't know where the author secured this information but I've known Maureen O'Hara for over 16 years, am her archivist and design and edit her official website "Maureen O'Hara Magazine" - but I have NEVER heard that she was to initially co-star with Duke in "Tall in the Saddle." She was supposed to co-star with him in "Rooster Cogburn" and Ford also wanted her for Ava Gardner's role in "Magambo" opposite Clark Gable. She had prior film commitments. She didn't even mention this in her autobiography, nor did any biographer on John Ford (and there are many) mention this casting change.<br /><br />She was also cast by Zanuck for the lead in "The King and I" and was replaced with Deborah Kerr. Supposedly Richard Rodgers said, "No pirate queen is going to play my Anna." Too bad, Maureen had a beautiful soprano voice as well.Junebug101https://www.blogger.com/profile/11463977527003408904noreply@blogger.com