I read that 20th was so disappointed with Barbra Streisand's performance that they wanted to replace her with Doris Day. I have also read that the picture was originally bought with Miss Day in mind. Ironic isn't it?
shareI don't think that anyone ever considered replacing Streisand once work on the picture had begun; once she was cast that was it. However, I can believe that before Barbra was cast, Doris Day may have been one of the names that was at least briefly mentioned in passing when the producers were going through the list of possible actresses who could possibly play the title role in the big-screen version of Dolly.
I'm a huge Doris Day fan, but for some reason I simply can't quite imagine her in this part. She could sing and dance and would have been much closer to the proper age for the role, but somehow I just don't think it would have been a good fit for her.
However, Doris WOULD have been absolutely perfect in "South Pacific"---probably would have been one of her great film roles. It's a pity it never worked out. (One reason was that those involved with making the film absolutely despised Doris' husband Marty Melcher---Marty was his wife's manager, so they were a package deal. No one wanted to deal with him, and that's at least part of the reason why Doris never got the part.)
Doris Day was considered for SOUTH PACIFIC, but Rodgers and Hammerstein were concerned that her many fans would see "Doris Day" on the screen instead of the character "Nellie Forbush," so they vetoed her. That's one major reason why they chose the relatively unknown Mitzi Gaynor for the role.
shareI can't see Doris Day in this role either. I've heard that Pearl Bailey and Carol Channing have both played this character. I can see either of those.
shareBarbra was too young, but she sells the heck out of the part. It works.
shareBarbra was indeed too young, but she saved the show. She was excellent in every scene.
The only person I ever heard wanting Barbra replaced was her co-star Walter Matthau, as the two stars detested each other. I heard he asked for her to be replaced many times, but without anyone giving it serious thought.(The two would make up years later, and become friends - especially Barbra and Carol Matthau, his wife).
I had also heard the studio really wanted Liz Taylor in the role, even though she was not a singer. Taylor wasn't interested.
Never heard about Doris Day.
"Splodey heads keep splodin' " - Sarah Palin, 7-1-16
by nneprevilo (Mon Nov 26 2007 13:45:42)
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I read that 20th was so disappointed with Barbra Streisand's performance that they wanted to replace her with Doris Day. I have also read that the picture was originally bought with Miss Day in mind. Ironic isn't it?
Here is one of the best articles I have read on all the drama behind this movie and Doris Day is not even mentioned.
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/188872%7C0/Hello-Dolly-.html