Moonlight and Magnolias Cast

The fanatically driven movie producer and son-in-law of the producer Louis B. Mayer. The son of a movie distributor who became bankrupt in the 1920’s, Selznick rose to the top of the Hollywood tree working at RKO, Paramount & MGM before starting his own Selznick International Pictures. He was notorious for his frantic pace of work and the astonishing volume of memos he produced on every aspect of the productions (seen by some as meddling and by others as attention to detail).

Started his working life as a motor mechanic, but got a break in the film business as a camera assistant, moving on to direct many action movies in the 1920’s and 30’s. With a robust manner and love of outdoor sports Fleming was known as a “man’s director”, but his two best known and most successful credits were The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind. Coincidentally, in both cases he was a substitute to replace the original director in the early days of shooting.

A successful Chicago journalist, Hecht became one of the most celebrated and prolific screenwriters in the early days of film in Hollywood, as well as contributing uncredited work as a “script doctor” on many more (including Gone with the Wind). As well as journalism and screenplays he wrote short stories, novels, plays (including The Front Page) and later ghost wrote Marilyn Monroe’s autobiography. A lifelong activist for Jewish causes, his active support of the Zionist movement in Palestine led to a British boycott of his work in the late 1940’s & 1950’s.

Selznick’s exceptionally efficient secretary. Usually tireless, but by the end of the five days even she is more than a little dazed.