Forever Amber
US (1947): Romance/Drama
The post-WW II screen scorcher based on Kathleen Winsor's novel (adapted by Jerome Cady, with a screenplay by Philip Dunne and Ring Lardner Jr.), a progenitor of the modern romance novel. The big-budget bodice buster caused gossip and censorship in its day. The story follows a stunningly beautiful peasant girl (Linda Darnell) as she sleeps her way into the British aristocracy.
Darnell plays a character who survives the Great Fire of London in the film, but she almost didn't survive the filming. The roof caved in during the Great Fire scene and cinematographer Leon Shamroy and Darnell got out just in time. (Ironically, Darnell died at age 41 of burns suffered in the house fire of a former secretary.) Peggy Cummins was originally cast as Amber, but proved unsuitable. Vincent Price was originally cast as King Charles, but was replaced by George Sanders. Otto Preminger received directing credit, but John M. Stahl also directed uncredited. Cast also includes Cornel Wilde, Richard Green, Richard Hadyn, Jessica Tandy, Anne Revere, Robert Coote, Leo G. Carroll and Margaret Wycherly. (20th Century-Fox) (amctv.com)
1 nomination
· Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) 1947: David Raksin