MISCASTING

CLOZE TEST

Read the text and complete the chart below with a word from the list that comes after the text. Every word can only be used ONCE. There are FIVE words that you do not need to use. Question 0 has been answered as an example.

MISCASTING

When we think of Bruce Willis the film we probably most associate him with is Die Hard (1988). However, the director’s first choice was Richard Gere. Meanwhile, Gere only starred in Chicago (2002) because John Travolta didn’t want the part. 0) __________, Glen Close is best known to the general public for her role in Fatal Attraction (1987), but Debra Winger was meant to play the part.
So, is it only recently that casting directors were saved from making the most 1) __________ mistakes by pure chance? In a word, no. Many of the classic movies of cinema history were flops because of casting errors.
Bette Davis 2) __________ down the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind (1939) because she thought that Errol Flynn, who she 3) __________, was going to play Rhett Butler. As a result, Vivien Leigh got the part. George Raft rejected successive roles in High Sierra (1941), The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Casablanca (1942). Humphrey Bogart 4) __________ up all three – and waltzed into cinema 5) __________. The plan was for Raft to star opposite Hedy Lamarr in Casablanca, but Hedy 6) __________ out because she wouldn’t work with an incomplete script. Ingrid Bergman was the second choice. That’s when Raft left because he didn’t want to work opposite an unknown Swedish broad! Cary Grant was meant to be James bond on 7) __________, and, when Sean Connery was suggested as an alternative, Ian Fleming wasn’t convinced.
Sometimes it’s not even the second choice that makes the movie. Most people in our world will always remember Sharon Stone for her role in Basic Instinct (1992). In fact, she only got that part when Isabelle Adjani, Julia Roberts, Debra Winger and Michelle Pfeiffer rejected it! Furthermore, Christopher Reeve was the sixth choice for Superman (1978) after Warren Beatty, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and James Caan.
On the other hand, I once read that a certain Australian had got 8) __________ up in a pub brawl one evening in 1979. The next day, his face covered in bruises, he accompanied a friend to an 9) __________ in which he didn’t plan to take part. However, director George Miller spotted this guy with a black eye and a swollen nose and thought he’d look great as the star of the action movie he was about to start making. The brawler was asked to come back a 10) __________ later. Over those two weeks his face healed and when he returned, the director didn’t even recognize him. In the end, however, Miller confirmed him in the star role of Mad Max (1979).

Adapted from ©Think in English

ADMIRE      CASTING      LEGEND      SIMILARLY    APPALLING      DESPISED    PICKED

TOOK         AUDITION    DROPPED    REPUDIATED      TURNED   BEATEN     FORTNIGHT

SCREEN      WORN

0. SIMILARLY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

KEY

1. APPALLING
2. TURNED
3. DESPISED
4. PICKED
5. LEGEND
6. DROPPED
7. SCREEN
8. BEATEN
9. AUDITION
10. FORTNIGHT