- Marilyn Monroe, The Asphalt Jungle, 1940. Lola Albright, John Huston’s first choice, felt Angela Phinlay was a backward step after her Champion breakthrough. Or so it goes… Another tale has Huston forced into giving the unknown Marilyn a second test or his Irish stallions would be sold off to cover his $18,000 stable bill to rancher Lucille Ryman Carroll… who also happened to be MGM’s chief talent exec! Fascinating except for one little truth… Huston already knew Marilyn and her agent-lover Johnny Hyde, and had tried to feature her in his previous endeavour, We Were Strangers, 1948. It is true that Huston tested eight other starlets – one being Holt, far better known as the mother of singer Cher.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 1