A Very Scarlett Lady: The Untold Story of Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable

A British cinema gathering in the 1960s hosted by Sir John Mills and his wife, Mary Haley Bell, turned out to be a star-studded affair.

Among the famous guests were director David Lean, actor Jack Hawkins, Noel Coward, Richard Attenborough, and the enigmatic Vivien Leigh.

Leigh, the former wife of Sir Laurence Olivier and a two-time Oscar winner, had aged since her iconic role as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind.

However, she still possessed an undeniable allure.

During the dinner, Leigh revealed an intriguing secret about her relationship with Clark Gable, her co-star in Gone With The Wind.

She disclosed that Gable, who played Rhett Butler, had tried to rape her off-screen.

This shocking revelation shed new light on their on-screen chemistry, making it clear that Gable's character was an extension of himself.

Leigh's claim of Gable's attempted assault was met with skepticism.

However, her demeanor and refusal to discuss the matter further convinced the author of a new book, Molly Haskell, that she was telling the truth.

In her book, Frankly, My Dear: Gone With The Wind Revisited, Haskell delves into the complex character of Scarlett O'Hara and the actress who brought her to life.

Before landing the role of Scarlett, Leigh was relatively unknown in Hollywood.

She had fallen in love with Olivier while working with him on Fire Over England, despite both being married at the time.

Her determination to win Olivier's affections led her to leave her first husband and daughter behind and pursue her lover in Los Angeles.

Leigh's pursuit of Olivier extended to her desire to play Scarlett, a role that attracted 1,400 actresses.

Leigh's dedication to the part paid off, and she successfully embodied the Southern belle.

However, the filming of Gone With The Wind took a toll on her.

Working 122 days compared to Gable's 73, Leigh became exhausted and experienced fits of hysteria and tears.

Her relationship with Olivier also faced challenges due to her insatiable s**ual appetite, which eventually strained their marriage.

Leigh's need for intense s**ual encounters persisted throughout her life and became more urgent as she aged.

She suffered from periods of depression that were accompanied by distressing s**ual fantasies and impulsive behavior.

Despite her personal struggles, Leigh's beauty and charm captivated those around her, including close friend Noel Coward, who ultimately grew frustrated with her self-destructive tendencies.

The marriage between Leigh and Olivier eventually ended in divorce in 1960.

Leigh's statement regarding the divorce was brief, indicating that Olivier had asked for it so he could marry Joan Plowright.

It was a sad conclusion to a once-great love story, overshadowed by Leigh's insatiable desires and turbulent emotional state.

Seventy years after the release of Gone With The Wind, Molly Haskell's book sheds new light on the iconic film and the people behind it.

Leigh's revelation about Gable's attempted assault adds another layer of complexity to their on-screen chemistry and the enduring legacy of the film.