If “Into The Woods” Were Made In 1946
This is pretty good casting. Judy Garland as The Baker’s Wife and Margaret O’Brien as Little Red are obvious. I’m not sure about Gene Kelly as The Prince — Kelly wasn’t a major movie star then. John Garfield might have been a better choice, though of course he didn’t have Kelly’s moves. (But then “Woods” isn’t a dance show, is it?) I also believe Elizabeth Taylor as Cinderella is premature. In 1946, Liz was only 13, not ripe enough to be wooed by a noble. Bette Davis as the Witch is inspired, even though Davis couldn’t sing very well and by 1946 her commercial appeal was waning and she was the Queen of Warner’s not MGM. I’m grateful that the 1946 poster didn’t cast Bing Crosby, who was that year’s top box-office star. He has the singing voice, of course, for the Prince, but not the dreamy looks. As for Katharine Hepburn as The Giant: dream on! It was a bit part. My favorite casting, buried towards the bottom of the poster, is Marjorie Main as Granny.
