Astaire was the studio's first choice to play the legendary entertainer/dancer/playwright/songwriter George M. Cohan.
Actor who got the part: James Cagney
Joan turned down the role of Mary Cohen as her first Warner Bros movie.
Actor who got the part: Joan Leslie
Joan Chen was close to play the role of Tracy Tzu.
Actor who got the part: Ariane
Young Gene was cast to play Jody Baxter after a nationwide search. However, when the production recommenced after a series of problems, the young actor had grown and it was decided to recast the part.
Actor who got the part: Claude Jarman, Jr.
Ann Harding was tested to play the role of Orry Baxter for the initial 1941 production. It was made finally in 1946 with Jane Wyman.
Actor who got the part: Jane Wyman
The Oscar-winning character star started filming as Ma Baxter, but problems with the production closed it down and the part was recast when it was resumed.
Actor who got the part: Jane Wyman
MGM originally tried to make a film of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' novel in 1941 with Tracy in the lead, but production delays forced the project to be canceled.
Actor who got the part: Gregory Peck
According to Streisand's biography, Douglas rejected the part of Avigdor, opposite Barbra Streisand who starred and directed.
Actor who got the part: Mandy Patinkin
According to Streisand's biography, Gere rejected the part of Avigdor, opposite Barbra Streisand who starred and directed.
Actor who got the part: Mandy Patinkin
Morris Karnovsky originally considered for the father role.
Actor who got the part: Nehemiah Persoff
Kevin Kline was one of many actors considered for this film.
Actor who got the part: Mandy Patinkin
Diane Lane auditioned for the role of Hadass.
Actor who got the part: Amy Irving
Ivan Passer was attached to direct this film, entitled Masquerade, in 1971, but left the project. Streisand said in her Making of Yentl documentary that Passer refused to cast her as Yentl because she was too old.
Actor who got the part: Barbra Streisand
John Shea was considered for the leading male role.
Actor who got the part: Mandy Patinkin
Christopher Walken was considered for the part of Avigdor in Barbra Streisand's film.
Actor who got the part: Mandy Patinkin
Judy wanted to re-team with her husband director Vincente Minnelli and play Yolanda Aquaviva but producer Arthur Freed saw the part more for a dancer and cast Lucille Bremer.
Actor who got the part: Lucille Bremer
A film based on the hit duet by Neil Diamond and Streisand was proposed but plans fell through.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
Pregnancy kept Jeanne Crain from teaming again with Dan Dailey in this musical drama.
Actor who got the part: Anne Baxter
He played a lawyer that read the last will, but it was edited out.
Broadway's history-making star of "the Glass Menagerie" screen-tested for the role of Miss Fortune.
Actor who got the part: Minnie Dupree
Randall had been cast as a brash playboy in the WW II drama featuring Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift but was shoved aside through the manipulations of a powerful talent agency.
Actor who got the part: Dean Martin
In his book "Barbra, the Way She Is", Christopher Andersen claims that Streisand was offered this film, but turned it down to do the Broadway musical Funny Girl.
Actor who got the part: Sharon Hugueny
Warner Bros. put contract star Wood on suspension for refusing to do this drama in which Paul Newman plays a young lawyer who climbs the social ladder.
Actor who got the part: Barbara Rush
Distressed over on-set arguments with the volatile Burt Lancaster, Grant (originally cast as Mary di Pace) telephoned Shelley Winters, said "He wants you in the part" and walked off the movie.
Actor who got the part: Shelley Winters
Warren Beatty originally agreed to act in this film, but eventually left the project.
Actor who got the part: James Franciscus
MGM thought about Elvis for the lead but Hank William's widow did not want to take away from Hank's legacy.
Actor who got the part: George Hamilton
Lucille Ball wanted real-life daughter Lucie Arnaz to play her daughter in this film.
Actor who got the part: Jennifer Leak
Jackie Gleason was reportedly approached to play Frank Beardsley.
Actor who got the part: Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda replaced Fred MacMurray on short notice.
Actor who got the part: Henry Fonda
Was offered the lead role of the professor in director Francis Ford Coppola's pre-WW II drama.
Actor who got the part: Tim Roth
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