66: MGM Stories Part 11: David O. Selznick Part Two: Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker

In 1941, Selznick signed a young actress named Phylis, who was then married to actor Robert Walker. Selznick renamed Phylis “Jennifer Jones,” and set to work turning her into a star, helping her to earn an Oscar for her first film under her new name. Selznick and Jones also began an affair, and Selznick’s romantic and professional obsession with Jones would result in the destruction of both of their marriages, as well as at least two movies transparently about Selznick’s passion for his star actress. But in a tragic echo of Selznick’s own film A Star is Born, as he threw his weight behind turning Jones into a star, Selznick himself lost his footing in Hollywood. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website today at Squarespace.com. Enter offer code REMEMBER at checkout to get 10% off! Squarespace — Build it Beautiful.