MovieChat Forums > Home from the Hill (1960) Discussion > Gable and Davis instead of Mitchum and P...

Gable and Davis instead of Mitchum and Parker

posted 19 years ago by AriesJB4
17 replies | jump to latest

The original leads in the film were supposed to have been Clark Gable and Bette Davis. However, due to Gable's untimely passing in November 1960, Robert Mitchum was cast instead.

I think it worked better with the next generation as opposed to the fifteen or so years difference between Gable and Mitchum.

This is one of my favorite Robert Mitchum roles. His own personality fits Captain Wade Hunnicutt just perfectly. Mitchum never fully got the recognition he deserved. He should have been nominated for an Oscar for this role. He only got one nod, and that was in the Supporting Actor category in 1945's "The Story of GI Joe", only to lose to a well deserved recipient, James Dunn ("A Tree Grows in Brooklyn").

[–] idylwild777 18 years ago

It would have been a great tying together of yesteryear and tomorrow with Gable and Peppard in this film the King of MGM and the then Crown Prince of MGM. If not Eleanor Parker I would have preferred Joan Crawford in this film,after all Crawford came not far from the Hill country, born in San Antonio, and of course
Gable and Crawford were oft co stars and if you believe Joan Crawford..on and off lovers until Gable's Death.

Lauana Patten was givent he big MGM build up and yet another MGM player Yvette Mimieux tested and lost this role...her only chance to have co starred with Peppard..

[–] Ripshin 8 years ago

The town that this is based upon, is northeast of Dallas.

Crawford can't be linked to the Hill Country in South Central Texas. She spent a few years after birth in nearby San Antonio, and was hardly a Texan, in any way.

She would have butchered the part.

[–] relaxalot 17 years ago

Actually this film began shooting in early April of 1960 and Gable died in November. The reason he didn't do it was he was nursing a grudge with the studio and refused to work for them on it. This just aired tonight on TMC and Robert Osborne talked about that specific topic.

Mitchum was fun to watch in it though. The two young Georges were so "actory" though. Mitchum blew them off the screen.

[–] idylwild777 17 years ago

Relaxalot is correct, I read recently that Gable had a peeve against MGM and when he left there he worked at Fox, Paramount, UA vowing never to return to MGM.

Spencer Tracy would have been great in Home From The Hill but so was Mitchum

Spencer Tracy and Gable were also offered Two Weeks In Another Town at MGM and Gable refused the film. Spencer Tracy was supposed to be in MGM's How The West Was Won but:one he would never take billing alphabetically but demanded top billing, absolute top billing as Spencer Tracy never yielded billing to anyone except maybe his friend Gable, so Mr. Tracy got special credit as narrator and his great voice is a very important part of HTWWW. Mr Tracy was also supposed to do MGM's Cincinnati Kid but dropped out due to illness to be replaced by Eddie G. Robinson. McQueen and Tracy in a film would have been great. Mr. Tracy years before demanded and got top billing over Sintara in Devil At Four O'Clock.

Eleanor Parker, George Peppard, Luana Patten, George Hamilton and Robert Mitchum were perfect in Home From The Hill. And Vincente Minnelli's direction was superb.

[–] kmiv 17 years ago

Please pardon my genteel vulgarity, but how HOT is Eleanor Parker??? I mean, WOW!!!!!

If I hadn't looked her up I'd never have guessed she was old enough to be George Hamilton's mum! Well, if she'd started early, of course.

[–] Xcalat3 17 years ago

I agree I think Mitchum was perfect for this role

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[–] gwen24 17 years ago

Lots of interesting history there, thanks for posting all those details. I thought Mitchum was good in this too.

[–] csu16387 14 years ago

Agreed that it worked better with Mitchum and Parker. Gable and Davis would have worked well... if they were a decade younger.

The entire cast really shines here, and Mitchum is particularly outstanding. It was nice to see this film again.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] joeparkson 13 years ago

I'm so glad Gable turned down the part. Mitchum was perfect. I'd like to have seen someone else as Theron. Anthony Perkins or even Elvis Presley.

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[–] proud2bdem 12 years ago

Elvis Presley would have been fantastic as Theron.

I love Gable, but couldn't see him bringing the right amount of bitterness to the role of the Capt. Robert Mitchum was born to play this part imo.

[–] AriesJB4 12 years ago

I saw part of the film yesterday morning when it aired on TCM - from the middle on. It is one of those films that no matter where you turn it on it will hold you captive until "The End" comes across the screen.

In total agreement with those previous posters who stated that Robert Mitchum was the complete embodiment of Captain Wade Hunnicutt. His interactions with all the actors in this film was outstanding.

Deborah Kerr might have been an interesting choice for Hannah as well. I know that Robert Mitchum co-starred with her in 1957's "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" and in 1960 in "The Sundowners", but I think Ms Kerr would have excelled in this role as well.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

joeparkson says > Mitchum was perfect.

I agree. The role seemed tailor made for Mitchum though I can also see Gable in it. It required a strong personality who would have been believable as a womanizer.

I'd like to have seen someone else as Theron. Anthony Perkins or even Elvis Presley.

At first I thought George Hamilton was all wrong. I had never seen him in a movie or as anyone other than himself so I was, admittedly, being a little prejudicial. He reminded me of Warren Beatty so I thought he'd have a similar screen persona as Beatty in his early days. However, once I understand the character I thought he hit the nail on the head.

Anthony Perkins would have worked well as Theron too. I've seen him play characters who are awkward, unsure of themselves, easily fooled, impulsive, and still very wet behind the ears. For those reasons, Elvis Presley would have been all wrong. Even before he was a star he seemed to have a swagger that would not have fit the role. No one would have believed he was Theron; at least I wouldn't.

The casting for the movie is perfect just as it is. George Peppard was the breakout for me. I had, of course, heard of him but never saw his work. He fit the role of Rafe like a glove. The writer also deserves credit for writing a character who is better adjusted, kinder, and more forgiving than he has reason to be.

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[–] theoctobercountry 9 years ago

Correction to earlier information in this thread: Actually, the film was shot from April through August in 1959, so the date of the production isn't why Gable didn't get the part.

[–] jrhpax 9 years ago

Robert Mitchum and Eleanor Parker were perfect in this movie.

I can see Clark Gable doing a creditable job, but I'm not sure about Bette Davis. The two never co-starred -- they were at different studios, of course, but no one would believe they'd ever be a couple. She would have needed a strong director who would have kept her from being hammy.

So I repeat -- Mitchum and Parker were perfect.

[–] theoctobercountry 9 years ago

I agree about Davis. Quite apart from the fact that she would have been too old for the part, I just can't see that role as a good fit for her; I don't think it would have worked very well. I think Parker does just fine.

[–] wtnmoviefan (20) 5 years ago

I agree, Mitchum and Parker were perfect for these roles. Gable was tough to watch in The Misfits.