Temple’s star power was undeniable from the very first moment she graced the screen.
Temple did countless interviews and was the subject of many profiles throughout her career.
“Judy Garland was not the popular choice among book fans,” historian Jay Scarfone toldFox News.
“She was 15 years old, which was considered too old for the role.
She was vivacious and over the top.
But there was never a serious contender except for Judy Garland.”
Studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck was always looking for the best projects for the star.
It would end up being a little more complicated than that.
Harlow died in June 1937, complicating the deal as it stood.
He was at odds with Nicholas Schenck, head of Loew’s, MGM’s controlling parent company.
Schenck felt that Temple was needed to ensure returns on the film’s big budget.
When he heard her sing, he knew their original choice was correct.
When the role officially went to Garland, it wasn’t long before Temple’s birthday.
