Does anyone know which role was intended for Varsi? According to the Meeker Museum website, this is one of the movies (along with "The Young Philadelphians") Varsi turned down, that led to her suspension from Fox, and ultimately her exit from Hollywood. I'm guessing her fellow "Peyton Place" co-star, Hope Lange replaced her, but does anyone know for sure?
shareAn August 1958 article wrote this:
Casting Scoop: Suzy Parker, Diane Varsi and' Lee Remick will play career girls in Fox's film version of that plain-spoken, "Peyton Place" type'new novel, "The Best of Everything".
I think she might have starred as April. I couldn't find anything on her being replaced.
I'm afraid to say I've always found Hope Lange to be a bit boring...so I'd rather see either Diane Varsi OR Lee Remick in her role.
shareI didn't know that! Interesting! Thank you very much for sharing, because I found myself thinking of her in Peyton Place as I was watching this. Odd.
"Didn't you go to school stupid?"
-"Yep, but I came out the same way."
I would have assumed that Diane Varsi, coming off Peyton Place, would have the lead role, which is Caroline. Lee Remick would have played Diane Baker's role.
I like Hope Lange as Caroline very much. I always thought that she looked more like Lana Turner than Varsi did and maybe she should have switched roles with Varsi in Peyton Place. But then again, i like Varsi in that poetic role more than I would have liked the somewhat stiffer Lange.
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