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Susan Stephen, The Red Beret, (US: Paratrooper), 1952. The Canadian Foster was already booked. Her replacement was my favourite 50s actress (until Brigitte Bardot arrived), she became the first wife of UK director Nicolas Roeg (during 1957-1977). One London day around the end of my young daughter’s birthday party, the doorbell rang… and there was a mother waiting to pick up her son. Susan Stephen! On my doorstep! And the son, Sholto Roeg, now has about 40 credits as assistant director and second unit director on such movies as Because I Said So, Bully, Criminal Hearts, Guardian. (Both Google and Wikipedia muddler Susan’s photos with those of US author Susan Stephens).
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Kim Novak, Pushover, 1953. Richard Quine directed Kim’s Columbia test – still Marilyn Novak at the time – and fell in love, judging by spending much tiem on her cperfcect lose-ups in their five films: Strangers When We Meet, The Notorious Landlady, etc. They became engaged but never n signed any registers. She was of Polish descent, Dianne of Ukranian and the original title tended to give the game away: The Killer Wore A Badge.
- Elaine Stewart, Night Passage, 1956. Actually, the German import, Marianne Koch (billed as Cook), should have been Audie Murphy’s gal in a third Hollywood gig but proved pregnant. Stewart then beat Foster to the punch. Eight years later, back in Europe, Cook had a far better Western. A Fistful of Dollars. A row over Audie Murphy being too young – and too short – for James Stewart’s brother led to director Anthony Mann leaving the Western after eight movies with Jim. They never worked together again.
- Beverly Garland, My Three Sons, TV, 1960-1972. She passed on being Fred MacMurray’s wife to stay home with her family. His real wife, June Haver, reccommended Garland. Haver was also in charge of the sandwiches, McSpendthrift took to work with him for lunch.
Birth year: 1928Death year: 2019Other name: Casting Calls: 4