That the producers of the film thought that Mr Holden was a "weak link" I thought his performance was fantastic for someone so young, it matched his colleagues, he even surpassed some of them. Who knows who would have taken his place if Miss Stanwyck hadn't have talked the powers that be around.
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Agree. Miss Stanwyck really knew talent when she saw it, and William's performance proves "Golden," boy!
Stanwyck displays a career-long history of championing up-and-coming stars, as her and William's history behind this film clearly proves.
I understand that the early dailies were pretty bad. Holden was supposedly stiff and understandably overwhelmed--- so Ms. Stanwyck's demands that he not be replaced were crucial. I imagine if it were any other actress they'd just tossed him off and the world would never have heard of William Beedle. Thanks Ruby! Also, stage vet Lee J. Cobb was only 6 years older than Bill here... I find that totally weird.
shareThe producers also thought Al Pacino in The Godfather was the weakest link, they wanted to greet rid of him if it wasn't for Coppola.
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