MovieChat Forums > Love in the Afternoon (1957) Discussion > Ok, if Hepburn had been unavailable for ...

Ok, if Hepburn had been unavailable for some reason,

posted 17 years ago by trpdean
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whom would you have chosen? This is a much harder question than a replacement for Cooper. Hepburn carries the movie - and does so incredibly well.

If however, she were simply unavailable, those who first come to mind to replace her would be (obviously) Leslie Caron, Jean Simmons, Maggie McNamara. Simmons is, I think, warmer than Caron - but wouldn't have been as young and naive seeming.

For those who've seen Maggie McNamara in things (I think of Three Coins in the Fountain particularly), don't you think she'd have done well?

McNamara does however seem less French than Hepburn. So, one can make a small change and switch it to, say, McNamara visiting her French father Maurice Chevalier - fascinated by his files, etc. If one wants to increase the French quotient, one can happily have Charles Boyer play the Cooper part.

[–] ladylavende 16 years ago

McNamara is an interesting suggestion, and I guess I could see her in the role. Though, honestly, as much as I love Three Coins in a Fountain, I still find her a little syrupy for my taste. That could be the script influencing me, but somehow she doesn't seem quite mischievous enough. I think Leslie Caron would be better, and the only actress, in my opinion who could ever replace Audrey in this role. I don't find her to be cold, as you suggested, but still, no one is as charming as Audrey. You're so right that she's the one who carries this movie. I find every movie she's in improves immediately just because of her presence.

I need to get my drink on- Pearl http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=8093247