MovieChat Forums > The Chalk Garden (1964) Discussion > How the film was cast

How the film was cast

posted 14 years ago by frasuer
10 replies | jump to latest

At the time the movie came out, producer Ross Hunter talked about
how the casting came about.

Hunter had so loved the stage play that he bought the movie rights,
intending to star his protegee Sandra Dee. He had envisioned Jean
Simmons in the role of Madrigal and Bette Davis as the grandmother!
But by the time he got around to producing it, Sandra was too old (18)
and had married Bobby Darin and was about to become a mother.

Then, after seeing a Hayley Mills' film he was so impressed that he
decided to wait for her to grow up to the right age. However, by that time,
Bette Davis' career had been revived by "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?"
and her price had grown too high for his budget --- keep in mind that Ross
was making this film for "art's sake" and fully expected to lose money
on it. Consequently he chose the magnificent (and less expensive)
stage legend, Dame Edith Evans (he said he thought it was time that film
audiences discovered her). Thank goodness for that.
All due respects to Bette Davis, but she would have thrown the
film's balance off completely.

Jean Simmons would have been fine as Madrigal, but for some reason
(perhaps she was unavailable) he gave Deborah Kerr the best role of her
mature years.

To accomodate Hayley and her father, Ross switched the film's location
from New England to Great Britain, and thus everyone connected with the
film ---- cast and crew, director Ronald Neame, film composer (Sir Malcolm Arnold)
were all British. This is why the film has such cohesion. Consequently, this
Ross Hunter production ended up being a VERY British film.

Ross was not just lucky in creating a perfect film, he was also
fortunate that Hayley Mills was so popular that instead of the film
opening in art houses, it opened at the huge Radio City Music Hall.
That engagement alone paid back Ross Hunter's entire investment!

[–] PinkIcicle 14 years ago

frasner--I enjoyed reading the history of the casting of this wonderful movie. I have a question: You mentioned that Ross Hunter had wanted to cast Sandra Dee, but she was "too old" at 18 (among other things). Wasn't Hayley 18 when she made the movie? At least I think I remember reading that somewhere. So Sandra may have been unavailable because she was married and pregnant at the time.

[–] frasuer 14 years ago

Hayley was 16 when she was signed for the part.
Considering how long it takes to work out such things,
it's very possible that negotiations began a year earlier.
Since Laurel is referred to as a "problem child", it was also
very helpful that Hayley always looked younger
than her years (and still does).

I can't find the shooting schedule(maybe somebody can inform us),
but it appears that she began the film shortly after her
seventeeth birthday.

[–] PinkIcicle 14 years ago

Okay--I must have been thinking of the film's release date (1964); since Hayley was born in 1946, that would have made her 18 (depending on what month it was actually released).

Anyhow, I love finding out these details about my favorite movies. Before your post, I did not know that Sandra Dee was the first consideration for the role of "Laurel."

I'm glad it turned out the way it did; I LOVED the fact that the cast was British.

[–] spletinckx 14 years ago

The film was shot in the spring of 1963 (approx. between March and May) and Hayley Mills had just turned 17 at the time.

[–] frasuer 14 years ago

Thanks. I knew another "Chalk Garden" admirer would
step up with the answer. Always glad to know more
about this wonderful film.

[–] gallivanea 14 years ago

Loved the casting story - thanks for sharing it. I can't imagine anyone other than Hayley Mills as Laurel, and as for Bette Davis, you're absolutely right - she would have thrown off the balance of the entire film. (btw, if filming was March-May of 1963, Hayley turned 17 during production, since her b.d. is April 18, 1946)

[–] spope2 14 years ago

My favourite Hayley movie. Although I once read that Hayley was 15 and turned 16 during the filming, because she was given a "16th" birthday present from Edith Evans during the filming. Anyway, this is my fave of Hayley's and Deborah err's movies. It helps that I also live in the South East of England where the movie was partially filmed.

[–] cookiela2001 10 years ago

Interesting to read all this. I'm watching this for the first time, and the dialogue is exceptional.

Two things:

* The original play is set in England (not New England). The playwright was British and, as a bit of trivia, best friends with designer Cecil Beaton.

* In one of her student roles at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Annette Bening (I think) played the role of Laurel. (One source lists her as playing the part of Olivia...but I've read other references to her playing the younger role.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do wish Gladys Cooper (the original stage Mrs. St. Maugham) had been retained for the film. I imagine she was somewhat gayer and...flirtier, somehow. She's a very effective actress from what I've seen of her, and it would be good to see her in a substantial role like this.

.

[–] JaneThree 8 years ago

About Hayley's age, Deborah Kerr kept a journal (for publication) of her experience on location for "Night of the Iguana" which also starred Sue Lyon, age 17. Kerr wrote that Lyon was 17 and acted 26, and previously she'd worked with a 17 year old (Mills) who acted 14.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 6 years ago

Whatever haley's age at the time, I'm so glad that she was chosen and Sandra wasn't.
Nothing against Sandra Dee. I just think that Haley had a bit more range. She also seemed the right age for Laurel. She was believable!

Someone mentioned Gladys Cooper from the original stage play. How I wish they could have cast her as the grandmother.