Since ANN-MARGRET did a screen test for the role of Irene, I wonder why the lackluster (and I mean downright DULL) MARIANNE McANDREW was picked over her ?
AM would've been far better in the role !
"Other than that Mrs.Lincoln how did you like our little play ?"-actress Laura Keene
Was Streisand powerful enough at the time to nix someone as pretty and talented as Ann-Margret for the role? Or maybe Kelly and Lehman themselves wanted to assure that nothing in the film challenged the central star performance. In either case, I agree with you: Ms. McAndrew is a glass of water.
It would have been WONDERFUL to have had A-M as Irene. Imagine, her and Streisand in the same film? Two of my favorites.
I'd love to even see the screen test. I've heard that it was shown on TV on some special or other, but I've never caught it. Anyone know where I can see it?
"I'm the only person here I've never heard of" - Charity Hope Valentine, SWEET CHARITY
It might have been in the A&E Biography of Ann-Margret. I don't know whether that is one that's available on DVD. If I recall correctly, her Minnie in the test was Patte Finley (who did a lot of TV in the 1970s -- I mostly know her as Mary Richards' clingy friend Twinks McFarland).
and Ann was cute - but definately "not" Irene Molloy. McAndrew was more in tone with the character - though I wonder why Mary Tyler Moore or Michelle Lee weren't approached (or even Audrey Hepburn who would have been charming)
Patte Finley actually played Irene Malloy to Ginger Rogers' Dolly when she took over the role and took Dolly on the road. My Mom saw that production at the Music Center in Los Angeles in 1967!