Since John Wayne didn't get along with Kim Darby who played Maddie Ross feeling that she was a lousy actress and stating that there was no chemistry between the 2 of them resulting in the both of them barely talking offscreen.
shareAccording to many sources, among them family members, he wanted Karen Carpenter. He had seen her in concert with her brother, and really liked her.
As per usual, her mom nixed the idea, as it would "overshadow" her brother.
I don't act...I react. John Wayne
If only Karen had tried acting-and lived on!
shareHis daughter
shareWayne was wrong on that one, I've read the book and Darby absolutely bailed Maddie's obnoxious, pushy, precocious personality. I suspect that Wayne wanted someone who might play her as nicer or more feminine, but the whole point of the story is that a nice feminine girl couldn't do what Maddie did.
Karen Carpenter for chrissakes? Even if she could act, a girl who spent her whole life being squashed by her family would gave been as wrong as wrong can be!