| Madame Alexander was an American entrepreneur. | | | | London representative of the Myron Selznick talent |
| She created the first "collectible" dolls based on a | | | | agency, headed by David Selznick's brother, a |
| licensed character, Scarlett O'Hara, from the book | | | | co-owner of Selznick International Pictures. |
| and movie "Gone with the Wind." | | | | Vivien Leigh asked her agent to put her name into |
| Scarlett O'Hara grew up on a Georgia plantation of | | | | consideration. David Selznick watched both the |
| Tara in the years before the American Civil War. She | | | | movies Vivien Leigh was in at the time, which was |
| was 16 years old at the outbreak of the Civil War. | | | | "Fire Over England," and "A Yank at Oxford." |
| Scarlett's character was one of a selfish, shrewd, | | | | Apparently David Selznick liked Vivien Leigh because |
| vain and strong willed young woman. However, | | | | she had the inside track for the role of Scarlett from |
| Scarlett desired to please her well-bred, gentle French | | | | that time on. Selznick started confidential negotiations |
| American mother, Ellen Robillard, who was from a | | | | with Leigh's agent to contract for her services later |
| good Savannah, Georgia family. | | | | that year. Leigh was told she did not need to screen |
| Scarlett had two younger sisters, lazy and whiny | | | | test for the role because Selznick was interested and |
| Suellen and the gentle and kind Carreen. Scarlett falls | | | | had viewed her most recent movies. |
| madly in love with Ashley Wilkes, who is her | | | | In a letter to Selznick's wife two days later, he |
| aristocratic neighbor. Ashley announced his | | | | admitted Leigh was "the Scarlett dark horse," then |
| engagement to a meek and mild-mannered Melanie | | | | after a series of screen tests, her casting was |
| Hamilton. Scarlett is furious and marries Melanie's | | | | announced on January 13, 1939. The public protested |
| brother, Charles out of spite. Scarlett's new husband, | | | | that the role was too "American" for an English |
| Charles dies early in the war, and Tara falls into the | | | | actress. In spite of the public protest, Leigh was cast, |
| hands of the Yankees. | | | | and she won an Academy Award for her |
| Scarlett is faced with many hardships. Even though | | | | performance. I just love that kind of outcome! |
| she was spoiled, selfish and shrewd, she shouldered | | | | Although Scarlett's most enduring charm for women |
| the troubles of her family and friends. She did not | | | | was her proto-feminism and strength, she apparently |
| grieve the loss of her first husband, Charles. She | | | | did have need of a man to be happy. She was |
| married her sister's beau, Frank Kennedy just to get | | | | married three times! No matter what she went |
| funds to pay the taxes on and save her family's | | | | through, she seemed to still be sad about the loss of |
| beloved home during the war. | | | | her dear, sweet, Ashley, Ashley. On the other hand, |
| Scarlett's character evolved into a woman who is | | | | however, all of her marriages had some kind of |
| capable of incredible, unforeseen fortitude when she | | | | ulterior motive that may have not been an actual |
| is cornered and in times of crises that is shown in her | | | | "need for a man," but rather what the man could do |
| resourceful nature and her devotion to her family | | | | for her at the moment, which was her innate selfish |
| during the most violent time in American history. | | | | character to begin with. The Hamilton marriage was |
| She was willing to step on anyone who did not have | | | | to upset and startle those around her. The marriages |
| her family's best interests at heart, which also | | | | to Kennedy and Butler were for financial security and |
| included her own sister. Regardless of how despicable | | | | betterment in the times of her life when she could |
| Scarlett's actions were, they were also very | | | | not fend for herself. Scarlett is by far the most |
| refreshing, and in the end turned out to be the right | | | | developed character in "Gone with the Wind," and |
| thing to do to save the family. Scarlett had very | | | | stands out because she is strong and saves her |
| good reason to feel that her sister, who was every | | | | family, but at the same time, is also incredibly selfish |
| bit as selfish as she was, but without the complete | | | | and petty. Scarlett O'Hara was also an incredibly |
| devotion to the family home, would marry for | | | | beautiful woman who had the heads of every man |
| money and turn her back on the only thing that really | | | | turning in her direction the moment she entered the |
| mattered, at least in the heart of Scarlett. Scarlett | | | | room. |
| just had no other choice but to steal her sister's | | | | She did not portray a typical female during the civil |
| beau, Frank Kennedy, and use the money for what | | | | war. She ran a store, and two lumber mills. She |
| was the best interest for the entire family, which | | | | survived the war, several marriages, the birth of |
| was to keep Tara. She knew her sister would not do | | | | children and a miscarriage. It is no wonder Scarlett |
| the same, because she lacked the family devotion | | | | described Melanie as being measly and who would |
| Scarlett had. | | | | have poor little children just like her when she married |
| Scarlett O'Hara was one of the most richly | | | | her beloved Ashley. Melanie had fragile health and a |
| developed female characters of the time on film and | | | | shy nature. Scarlett certainly demonstrated a female |
| in literature. She challenged the prescribed "women's | | | | with much deeper characteristics. She also lived a |
| roles" of her time over and over again, which made | | | | very complicated life during a difficult period of |
| her a modern woman long before feminism was ever | | | | history. You would think Ashley would have chosen |
| born. As a result, she was very much disliked by the | | | | Scarlett over Melanie. In the end, I believe it was |
| people of Atlanta, Georgia. | | | | much more Melanie's character that portrayed the |
| Scarlett had an ongoing internal conflict about her | | | | actual "need for a man," which is probably why |
| feelings for her beloved Ashley, Ashley, darling, and | | | | Ashley did choose her. Scarlett did not need Ashley, |
| her attraction to the sardonic, opportunistic Rhett | | | | but Melanie did. |
| Butler, who seemed to know her better than anyone | | | | I love Scarlett's lines from "Gone with the Wind," like |
| actually, and who eventually became her third | | | | "Fiddle-dee-dee!" and "Tomorrow is another day," |
| husband. | | | | "Great balls of fire!" and "I'll never be hungry again!" |
| Searching for the Right Scarlett O'Hara | | | | Those lines tell me Scarlett was very optimistic and |
| The search for an actress to play Scarlett in the film | | | | full of spunk, which I personally think Katherine |
| version of the novel drew some of the biggest | | | | Hepburn could have done just as well, but not as |
| names in the history of cinema. Bette Davis was | | | | "fabulous" as Miss Leigh! |
| eliminated from possible prospects because of her | | | | Now whenever you think of Madame Alexander, you |
| casting as a Southern belle in Jezebel in 1937. | | | | can remember that she was also an incredible artist |
| Katharine Hepburn wanted the part and demanded | | | | as was Vivien Leigh, who left some extraordinary |
| an appointment with producer David O. Selznick, and | | | | beautiful works of doll art to entertain us. Madame |
| is quoted as saying: "I am Scarlett O'Hara! The role is | | | | Alexander created the first "collectible" dolls based on |
| practically written for me." Jean Arthur and Lucille Ball | | | | a licensed character, Scarlett O'Hara, from the book |
| were also considered. I personally think Katharine | | | | and movie "Gone with the Wind." |
| Hepburn was probably runner up, but Lucille Ball, I | | | | And For everyone who loved Scarlett O"Hara and |
| could never imagine playing the part of Scarlett | | | | "Gone with the Wind," we all must now have a |
| O'Hara. Lucy was just not the type in my opinion to | | | | Scarlett O'Hara Madame Alexander doll in mint |
| ever be convincingly selfish or as intelligent as the | | | | condition in the box! |
| character role demanded the actress to be. Lucy | | | | Disclaimer: Vintage Doll Collecting is not associated |
| always had that big-eyed dumb and naive kind of | | | | with the Madame Alexander Company. This article is |
| look in my opinion. | | | | for educational purposes only. We do not promote or |
| Other big stars of the time that were considered for | | | | sell the Madame Alexander Dolls or any other |
| the part included:o Susan Haywardo Lana Turnero | | | | collector doll on our web site. Our website and this |
| Joan Bennetto Paulette Goddard | | | | article is designed to help the collector learn more |
| Scarlett O'Hara is Chosen | | | | about Vintage Dolls and how to start collecting and |
| The young English actress, Vivien Leigh, was virtually | | | | maintaining Vintage Doll collections of all kinds. |
| unknown in America. Her agent happened to be the | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. |