MovieChat Forums > Oklahoma! (1956) Discussion > Other Women who could have played Ado An...

Other Women who could have played Ado Annie?

posted 17 years ago by FrankStanko
44 replies | jump to latest

I was thinking about it, and Betty Hutton really should have taken the role.

Others who could have done it:
Celeste Holm (orig. the part on B'Way; under contract to Fox at the time)
Marilyn Monroe (again, Fox contractee; what a follow-up to There's No Business Like Show Business that would have been!)
Lee Remick (in keeping with the "Actors Studio" types being considered motif).

And, of course, someone who would have been just perfect, if she was a little more well-known then:

Carol Burnett!!!!

Any other ideas?

[–] TooSlim 17 years ago

I have always thought Betty Hutton would have been great! Or maybe Betty Garrett...but unfortunately she was blacklisted during that time.

[–] misspaddylee 17 years ago

Pamela Britton was Celeste Holm's understudy on Broadway. She was in a few movies such as "Anchors Aweigh" and "DOA". She was the same age as Gloria Grahame and I wish they had given her a shot at Ado Annie. Fans of "My Favorite Martian" will remember her as Mrs. Brown. In one episode of that series she got a chance to show off her musical ability.

"It's as red as The Daily Worker and just as sore."

[–] rorysa 17 years ago

They already had one unknown in a leading role. This was way too big a film to have two (Carol Burnett).

[–] mlevans 17 years ago

Good question! Having just seen the film for the first time...after watching bits & pieces of our local high school practicing the musical (for the state Centennial next month), I'm not sure just how attractive the character is supposed to be. The high school has a really attrative girl in the part (although I haven't seen them in costumes or makeup yet). I was a bit surprised that the character seemed to be the least attractive young female in the movie.

Of course some of that may be the hair, etc. Personally, I think what really turned me off to her as Ado Annie was that she really, really made me think of a much younger Pearl Bodine (Jethro's mom from The Beverly Hillbillies)!

If you recall the scene where the girls are freshening up in the house on the way to the dance, there was no shortage of lookers in the cast ... so it seems funny that the one who "can't say no" had much of a NEED to say "no!" lol

[–] boarding_angel 17 years ago

Gloria Grahame was a very beautiful woman... in her eariler movies she was stunning and also kind of unsual looking... I didn't think she was that pretty in Oklahoma either...but it wasn't because she wasn't lovely in real life... She usually played a blonde... But they couldn't have had her blonde in the movie because Shirly Jones was the Blonde in it... would have been a conflict to have two. I think Bette Hutton would have overpowered the role...Dont get me wrong..Bette is one of my all time favorites... but she would have brought way too much energy to the role and would have stolen the movie completly... no one would have thought of Shirly Jones at all... her charector is a wuss. And then agian Bette was a blonde... couldn't imagine her brunette.

[–] Isaac5855 17 years ago

Carol Burnett was still an unknown in 1955 and would never have been considered for the role, though, yes, she would have been fantastic. I can't see Marilyn Monroe in the role at all and didn't Celeste Holm originate the role of Aunt Eller, not Ado Annie? Betty Hutton would have been good too.

[–] Harold_Robbins 16 years ago

Holm was the original Ado Annie on Broadway in 1943 - by the time the film was made she was was an Oscar winner, but her film career hadn't really gone anywhere, despite memorable roles in some good films - one wonders if by the time the film was made she was considered too old for the role?

"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely fascinating!"---Katharine Hepburn

[–] StrongRex 16 years ago

Marilyn Monroe would have been interesting. But of course, anyone but Gloria Grahame.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] copeland_399 15 years ago

I always thought Gloria Graham looked odd in this film but I read somewhere that she was suffering with a swollen face during some of the filming due to a tooth abscess or something. She certainly does look a bit puffy round the jaw when she's singing "Can't say no" and her bonnet ribbon seems to be strategically placed too.

Just watching it on UK TV and thought I'd have a look on here to see what people thought about it. I saw it first in the cinema in the 50s.

[–] Daisies5060 15 years ago

Definitely Betty Hutton!!!!

"New York, this is your last chance."

[–] DryToast 15 years ago

In what could have been her film debut... Shirley MacLaine.

Watch The Trouble with Harry and Artists and Models, her first films, both made the same year as Oklahoma!, and picture it. She was considered for Carrie in the film of Carousel the following year, so we know she was on Rodgers and Hammerstein's radar.

"Please! You're not at home!"

[–] Daisies5060 15 years ago

You're right! Shirley MacLaine would have been excellent.

"New York, this is your last chance."

[–] rorysa 15 years ago

I'm not sure why I'm getting in on this, but here's one:

Debbie Reynolds

[–] DryToast 15 years ago

Shirley MacLaine...

She was considered for Carrie in the film of Carousel the following year, so we know she was on Rodgers and Hammerstein's radar.

Stupid me! I totally forgot that Shirley MacLaine was a dancer in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Broadway show Me and Juliet in 1953, so they definitely knew who she was, whether or not they recognized her potential.

"Please! You're not at home!"

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] beresfordjd 15 years ago

I have always thought that Gloria Grahame stole the movie. She gives a really great comedic performance that blows me away. I have seen Oklahoma dozens of times over the past 40 odd years and always look forward to seeing her do her thing. I could not imagine anyone else doing it.