Madame Alexander was an American entrepreneur. She created the first “collectible” dolls based on a licensed character, Scarlett O’Hara, from the book and movie “Gone with the Wind.”
Scarlett O’Hara grew up on a Georgia plantation of Tara in the years before the American Civil War. She was 16 years old at the outbreak of the Civil War.
Scarlett’s character was one of a selfish, shrewd, vain and strong willed young woman. However, Scarlett desired to please her well-bred, gentle French American mother, Ellen Robillard, who was from a good Savannah, Georgia family.
Scarlett had two younger sisters, lazy and whiny Suellen and the gentle and kind Carreen. Scarlett falls madly in love with Ashley Wilkes, who is her aristocratic neighbor. Ashley announced his engagement to a meek and mild-mannered Melanie Hamilton. Scarlett is furious and marries Melanie’s brother, Charles out of spite. Scarlett’s new husband, Charles dies early in the war, and Tara falls into the hands of the Yankees.
Scarlett is faced with many hardships. Even though she was spoiled, selfish and shrewd, she shouldered the troubles of her family and friends. She did not grieve the loss of her first husband, Charles. She married her sister’s beau, Frank Kennedy just to get funds to pay the taxes on and save her family’s beloved home during the war.
Scarlett’s character evolved into a woman who is capable of incredible, unforeseen fortitude when she is cornered and in times of crises that is shown in her resourceful nature and her devotion to her family during the most violent time in American history.
She was willing to step on anyone who did not have her family’s best interests at heart, which also included her own sister. Regardless of how despicable Scarlett’s actions were, they were also very refreshing, and in the end turned out to be the right thing to do to save the family. Scarlett had very good reason to feel that her sister, who was every bit as selfish as she was, but without the complete devotion to the family home, would marry for money and turn her back on the only thing that really mattered, at least in the heart of Scarlett. Scarlett just had no other choice but to steal her sister’s beau, Frank Kennedy, and use the money for what was the best interest for the entire family, which was to keep Tara. She knew her sister would not do the same, because she lacked the family devotion Scarlett had.
Scarlett O’Hara was one of the most richly developed female characters of the time on film and in literature. She challenged the prescribed “women’s roles” of her time over and over again, which made her a modern woman long before feminism was ever born. As a result, she was very much disliked by the people of Atlanta, Georgia.
Scarlett had an ongoing internal conflict about her feelings for her beloved Ashley, Ashley, darling, and her attraction to the sardonic, opportunistic Rhett Butler, who seemed to know her better than anyone actually, and who eventually became her third husband.
Searching for the Right Scarlett O’Hara
The search for an actress to play Scarlett in the film version of the novel drew some of the biggest names in the history of cinema. Bette Davis was eliminated from possible prospects because of her casting as a Southern belle in Jezebel in 1937. Katharine Hepburn wanted the part and demanded an appointment with producer David O. Selznick, and is quoted as saying: “I am Scarlett O’Hara! The role is practically written for me.” Jean Arthur and Lucille Ball were also considered. I personally think Katharine Hepburn was probably runner up, but Lucille Ball, I could never imagine playing the part of Scarlett O’Hara. Lucy was just not the type in my opinion to ever be convincingly selfish or as intelligent as the character role demanded the actress to be. Lucy always had that big-eyed dumb and naive kind of look in my opinion.
Other big stars of the time that were considered for the part included:
• Susan Hayward
• Lana Turner
• Joan Bennett
• Paulette Goddard
Scarlett O’Hara is Chosen
The young English actress, Vivien Leigh, was virtually unknown in America. Her agent happened to be the London representative of the Myron Selznick talent agency, headed by David Selznick’s brother, a co-owner of Selznick International Pictures.
Vivien Leigh asked her agent to put her name into consideration. David Selznick watched both the movies Vivien Leigh was in at the time, which was “Fire Over England,” and “A Yank at Oxford.” Apparently David Selznick liked Vivien Leigh because she had the inside track for the role of Scarlett from that time on. Selznick started confidential negotiations with Leigh’s agent to contract for her services later that year. Leigh was told she did not need to screen test for the role because Selznick was interested and had viewed her most recent movies.
In a letter to Selznick’s wife two days later, he admitted Leigh was “the Scarlett dark horse,” then after a series of screen tests, her casting was announced on January 13, 1939. The public protested that the role was too “American” for an English actress. In spite of the public protest, Leigh was cast, and she won an Academy Award for her performance. I just love that kind of outcome!
Although Scarlett’s most enduring charm for women was her proto-feminism and strength, she apparently did have need of a man to be happy. She was married three times! No matter what she went through, she seemed to still be sad about the loss of her dear, sweet, Ashley, Ashley. On the other hand, however, all of her marriages had some kind of ulterior motive that may have not been an actual “need for a man,” but rather what the man could do for her at the moment, which was her innate selfish character to begin with. The Hamilton marriage was to upset and startle those around her. The marriages to Kennedy and Butler were for financial security and betterment in the times of her life when she could not fend for herself. Scarlett is by far the most developed character in “Gone with the Wind,” and stands out because she is strong and saves her family, but at the same time, is also incredibly selfish and petty. Scarlett O’Hara was also an incredibly beautiful woman who had the heads of every man turning in her direction the moment she entered the room.
She did not portray a typical female during the civil war. She ran a store, and two lumber mills. She survived the war, several marriages, the birth of children and a miscarriage. It is no wonder Scarlett described Melanie as being measly and who would have poor little children just like her when she married her beloved Ashley. Melanie had fragile health and a shy nature. Scarlett certainly demonstrated a female with much deeper characteristics. She also lived a very complicated life during a difficult period of history. You would think Ashley would have chosen Scarlett over Melanie. In the end, I believe it was much more Melanie’s character that portrayed the actual “need for a man,” which is probably why Ashley did choose her. Scarlett did not need Ashley, but Melanie did.
I love Scarlett’s lines from “Gone with the Wind,” like “Fiddle-dee-dee!” and “Tomorrow is another day,” “Great balls of fire!” and “I’ll never be hungry again!” Those lines tell me Scarlett was very optimistic and full of spunk, which I personally think Katherine Hepburn could have done just as well, but not as “fabulous” as Miss Leigh!
Now whenever you think of Madame Alexander, you can remember that she was also an incredible artist as was Vivien Leigh, who left some extraordinary beautiful works of doll art to entertain us. Madame Alexander created the first “collectible” dolls based on a licensed character, Scarlett O’Hara, from the book and movie “Gone with the Wind.”
And For everyone who loved Scarlett O”Hara and “Gone with the Wind,” we all must now have a Scarlett O’Hara Madame Alexander doll in mint condition in the box!
Disclaimer: Vintage Doll Collecting is not associated with the Madame Alexander Company. This article is for educational purposes only. We do not promote or sell the Madame Alexander Dolls or any other collector doll on our web site. Our website and this article is designed to help the collector learn more about Vintage Dolls and how to start collecting and maintaining Vintage Doll collections of all kinds.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about starting and maintaining a Vintage Doll Collection visit http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special sections in U.S. History and the Kennedy Administration visit http://www.camelotarticles.com
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