This site tells you what actors ALMOST had a movie role:

"Gone with the Wind"
20th Century Fox. head Darryl F. Zanuck foolishly and selfishly denied the makers of this Civil War classic epic the chance to borrow Power from Fox so that he could play Ashley Wilkes.

"The Robe"
Studio bosses offered the "Marcellus Gallio" role to Power, but he instead chose to do a stage play.

"Viva Zapata!"
The major star and heartthrob was the original choice to play Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata for director Elia Kazan.

The GWTW is a real shame. He would have made a memorabel Ashley, imho (not to mention almost as pretty as Vivien Leigh :-)).

I don't think he missed much re The Robe (he was none too impressed with the material, i don't think).

As for Zapata I think Brando was the best choice for that one. What say you?

I never saw "Zapata" but I am deeply saddened by the Ashley Wilkes role. Man, that would've been awesome.

Oh let us not forget Zanuck refusing to lend him out for Golden Boy or Kings Row.

Considering the stateliness of Ashley Wilkes, I could see Tyrone Power, but as Ashley shows certain weakness in the latter parts of the film, I'd have to place a maybe on that. I think Leslie Howard did a fine job.

I could see Ty as Captain Butler, with enmity on his face, "Frankly m'dear, I don't give a ****!" as he storms off from Scarlett, although Clark Gable was excellent in the role. (Also Ty taking Scarlett up the steps in that very dynamic scene.)


Thanks for mentioning this website. I love looking up stories like that.

Just a note--I didn't "clean" up my post. The forum did. :)

Howard was brilliant agreed. Other than his age, he truly was one of the best choices.

Gable was untouchable in that role--no one could have topped him, imho.

". (Also Ty taking Scarlett up the steps in that very dynamic scene.)

Read somewhere that he had to carry Vivien Leigh 13 times up those stairs with all the retakes. However, she was very light apparently and it wasn't an exertion for Gable :-).

..have to try this :-)...'frakly i don't give a ****!"

..what if we were talking about the Boulder **** (?)

(....sorry, out of control :-))

No problem, Melody!

Yes, Leslie Howard was great as Ashley. He even had a female name in real life, lol. That was not funny, actually

Leslie looked like Paul Hogan to me. Crocodile Dundee.

Kerry--I never thought of that. How true!

MV