Question 1

Why was the incestuous subplot toned down in The Barretts of Wimpole Street?

Accepted Answer

Concerned about the public's reaction, the studio toned down the disturbing subplot about Father Barrett's incestuous designs on his daughter, though Charles Laughton remarked they couldn't censor the 'gleam' in his eye.

Question 2

Which actress did William Randolph Hearst want for the lead, and what happened when she wasn't cast?

Accepted Answer

Hearst wanted his mistress Marion Davies for the role of Elizabeth Barrett, but Irving Thalberg cast his wife Norma Shearer. Enraged, Hearst pulled Davies from MGM and placed her at Warner Bros., and Shearer's name was banned from Hearst newspapers for over a year.

Question 3

How was the 1957 remake of The Barretts of Wimpole Street related to the 1934 version?

Accepted Answer

The 1957 remake was literally word-for-word and scene-for-scene, directed by the same director Sidney Franklin and produced by the same studio MGM.

Question 4

What was Charles Laughton's reaction to not being nominated for an Oscar?

Accepted Answer

Charles Laughton was convinced he had given an Oscar-worthy performance and was bitterly disappointed not to be nominated.

Question 5

How close in age were Charles Laughton and Norma Shearer, who played father and daughter?

Accepted Answer

Charles Laughton, who played Elizabeth Barrett's father, was only three years older than Norma Shearer, who played Elizabeth.

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The Barretts of Wimpole Street

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