Selznick’s snub
During the many arduous months of the film’s development, a host of writers would struggle to adapt the novel into a more concise screenplay. Selznick turned to renowned director and producer, Alfred Hitchcock, for assistance with the movie’s screenplay. Hitchcock composed a detailed screenplay for numerous scenes alongside detailed descriptions of camera angles. In a rather insulting move, the producer didn’t use any of Hitchcock’s suggestions. Ultimately, it took 16 writers almost two years to adapt the novel.
A pretty penny
Just a mere month after the novel Gone With The Wind made its way to book stores, Selznick bought the movie rights from the author of the book for $50,000. More than 30 million copies have been printed and sold worldwide. According to a 2014 poll, the novel is the second favorite book of American readers, preceded by the bible. It was reported that the ambitious producer had not read the novel but was impressed by its public and critical acclaim.