Jean Arthur

Frank Capra's favorite actress, Jean Arthur, started in films during the silent era. But her husky voice, her versatility and adeptness at comedy had, by 1936, made her a top box office draw. She wanted the part of Scarlett very badly and was tested three times. Selznick considered her one of the top contenders. Later, after Vivien Leigh was cast, Arthur got hold of her screentests and as the memo below illustrates, destroyed one of them.

SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL PICTURES, INC.

Inter-Office Communication

TO: Mr. D. O. Selznick cc: Mr. O'Shea

DATE: 4-20-39

FROM: Hal C. Kern

SUBJECT: Jean Arthur - G.W.T.W. Test

On January 17th, 1939, with Mr. O'Shea's okay, we
loaned to the Hayward-McCormick Agency, three tests, namely:

JEAN ARTHUR - CHARLES QUIGLEY - Drunk Scene
JEAN ARTHUR - DOUGLASS MONTGOMERY - Paddock
JEAN ARTHUR - HATTIE MCDANIEL - Dressing for Babeque

Weekly thereafter an attempt was made through
Mr. O'Shea's office to effect the return of these tests.
On February 15th, the Agency returned to us the JEAN ARTHUR -
DOUGLAS MONTGOMERY test and the JEAN ARTHUR - HATTIE MCDANIEL
test. This was immediately reported to Mr. O'Shea together
with the information that the JEAN ARTHUR - CHARLES QUIGLEY test
had not been returned. Daily thereafter, for several days,
we checked with Mr. O'Shea's office and they in turn made every
effort to get the test back.

After you asked to see this test last night, I
called Mr. O'Shea and told him that we had to get the test
back without any more delay. He went to work immediately on
it and found that Jean Arthur had taken this particular test
and destroyed it.

Please advise if you wish the test of JEAN ARTHUR -
CHARLES QUIGLEY in the 'drunk scene' reprinted.

HAL C. KERN

HCK:a

Harry Ransom CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

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