So much has been written about the film production of Gone With The Wind, but it’s a big story with lots of details. I bet there’s at least something in this trivia list that you didn’t already know. For example:
3. The Daughters of the Confederacy campaigned against Vivien Leigh
The Ocala, Florida chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy were greatly offended that a British actress had been chosen to play such an iconic southern character. However, when they were told that the role could go to Katharine Hepburn, they stopped their protest. Better an Englishwoman than a Yankee.
6. The first director was fired...
Gone with the Wind's original director was George Cukor, who had spent more than two years in planning and developing the film. Officially, he left the picture when he and producer Selznick couldn’t come to terms on the pace of filming and on how much expensive authenticity and detail Cukor was insisting on. However, the rumors surrounding his departure were more salacious, suggesting that Cukor, who was as openly gay as possible for the era, had friction with Clark Gable. Some say Gable didn’t want to work with a homosexual, and some say Gable had been a homosexual hustler in his youth and didn’t want Cukor to expose him. And some just believed that, since Cukor had a reputation for making “woman’s films,” Gable thought he’d lose the spotlight.
Oh yeah, and the second director had a nervous breakdown, meaning a third director was called in. There’s lots more in this list from mental_floss, including a rare, behind-the-scenes film of the barbecue scene.