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Ron Hutchinson
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Moonlight and Magnolias - Acting Edition Paperback – January 1, 2006

by Ron Hutchinson (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
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This is an insight into 1930s Hollywood and an epic of laughter. David O. Selznick is determined to rewrite Gone with the Wind. He engages the services of “script doctor” Ben Hecht, who has never read the book, and director Victor Fleming, poached straight from the set of The Wizard of Oz.

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  1. Print length
    72 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.25 x 7.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0822220849
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0822220848
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dramatists Play Service, Inc. (January 1, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 72 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0822220849
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0822220848
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.25 x 7.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

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Ron Hutchinson

Ron Hutchinson

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
19 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J.T.
5.0 out of 5 stars Saw this play on our first date...
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
Bought this as part of an anniversary present. It was just as described
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Lawrance Bernabo
4.0 out of 5 stars Writing the script for "Gone With the Wind" as a Marx Bros. movie
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2008
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In 1939 legendary film producer  David O. Selznick  had finally found his Scarlett O'Hara in  Vivien Leigh , and filming had begun on the epic film " Gone with the Wind ." But things are not going well, partially because his biggest star,  Clark Gable , is not getting along with director George Cukor (known as a ladies' director), but more importantly because  Sidney Howard's screenplay  runs six hours. So Selznick fires Cukor, pulls director Victor Fleming off the set of " The Wizard of Oz " and summons to his office the best script doctor in Hollywood,  Ben Hecht  to rewrite the script. The only problems with this bright idea are that Hecht is supposed to be working on punching up the script for the Marx Brothers' " At the Circus  and he has never read  Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind" . To be fair, Hecht has read the first page of the Pulitzer Prize winning and best-selling novel, but he dismisses it as "Moonlight and Magnolias." However, this does not preclude Selznick from locking Hecht in his office, while his secretary brings a steady supply of bananas and peanuts, and the producer and his new director act out the story for the new writer.

In this two-act comedy the setting is Selznick's Hollywood office and the imagination as to what happened during the five days in which Hecht wrought the new and improved screenplay for "GWTW" is mostly that of author Ron Hutchinson, who takes what little the survivors of this event revealed after the fact and runs with it. On the one hand it is clear that the more you know about the 1,037 page novel, the 3 hour and 53 minute movie, and the making of the movie, the more you are going to enjoy the various jokes and references that fly by during this farce. But on the other hand, all you really need to know is that Selznick's movie is going to be the biggest blockbuster in the history of the cinema (both in terms of number of tickets sold and money, once you adjust for inflation). Then again, the fact that Hecht was working on a Marx Brothers movie might be even more important, because "Moonlight and Magnolias" is more akin to their brand of zaniness more than anything else.

The main comic tension is that Hecht does not want to be there and the more he hears about the story, the less he thinks about the whole idea of the movie and its troubled heroine. In fact, Hecht considers Katie Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler to be an adulterous, two-timing, slave-driving heroine who is about to add child abuse to her resume when she starts beating on Prissy for knowin' nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies. Then again, the nicest thing Fleming has to say about the character is that she does not have enough class to be a hooker. However, despite these and other objections, Selznick keeps insisting Scarlett has to stay in the movie and the script has to remain true to Mitchell's novel. As much as Hutchinson likes to have fun with these characters, with Selznick fluttering around playing Scarlett, Fleming forced to give birth to Ashley's baby among other indignities, and Hecht devolving into a hysterical wreck, he also has a real affection for the real people and the great movie they produced. Chances are most fans of "GWTW" are never going to be able to see this play performed (although I did a couple of months ago), but if you have owned every version of the film that has been produced on videotape and DVD and are in double figures on  "GWTW" collectibles , then you should definitely check out "Moonlight and Magnolias" for some laughs.
8 people found this helpful
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Brent Schoffstall
5.0 out of 5 stars ... a product I think the book and contents are fine for anyone planning on being in the play
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2015
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As a product I think the book and contents are fine for anyone planning on being in the play. But as a play I didn't enjoy it immensely. The point of this review is tom mention that the product is fine and is good, but I personally didn't enjoy the play.
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Cap'n Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Play
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2011
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I originally purchased this play for my theater class, but it proved to be a play I learned to love and enjoy. It chronicles the creating (fictitious) of The Wizard of Oz and all the drama and hilarity involved in this.
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skinnyfoot
5.0 out of 5 stars This is funny and truly epic
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2015
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After only a few read- throughs, we can't wait for our upcoming production. This is funny and truly epic!
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retep nivlag
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2015
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very funny.
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Frances
5.0 out of 5 stars Needed for upcoming auditions
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2014
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I am auditioning for this play in our area and needed to purchase this script. This weekend are the scheduled auditions.
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Alan R. Kaplan
2.0 out of 5 stars so so play
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2012
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Found the play too frenetic. saw a production out here in california couldnt really relate it aims for farce and madcap but leaves me cold. bought and read it and felt the same way. doesnt make me laugh

much
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