Editing Kings Row (section)

==Production==
[[Wolfgang Reinhardt (producer)|Wolfgang Reinhardt]] refused an assignment to produce the film, saying, "As far as plot is concerned, the material in ''Kings Row'' is for the most part either censurable or too gruesome and depressing to be used. The hero finding out that his girl has been carrying on incestuous relations with her father... a host of moronic or otherwise mentally diseased characters... people dying from cancer, suicides–these are the principal elements of the story."<ref name='TCMnotes'>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/76862/great-expectations#articles-reviews?articleId=212765 |title=Notes for Kings Row (1942) |access-date=November 16, 2022|work=Turner Classic Movies |publisher=Turner Classic Movies }}</ref>

===The Hays Code===
[[File:Cummings and Field in Kings Row.jpg|thumb|250px|Parris ([[Robert Cummings]]) and Cassandra ([[Betty Field]]); their illicit romance disturbed the [[Hays Office]]]]

A film adaptation of Bellamann's controversial novel, modeled on his home town of [[Fulton, Missouri]], presented significant problems for movie industry censors who sought to bring the film into conformity with the [[Hays Code]]. Screenwriter Casey Robinson believed the project was hopeless because of the Code. Producer [[Hal B. Wallis]] said that Robinson felt "I was crazy to have bought so downbeat a property." Wallis urged him to reconsider and Robinson realized that he could turn this into the story of "an idealistic young doctor challenged by the realities of a cruel and horrifying world."<ref name='Friedrich'/>

[[Joseph Breen]], director of the Production Code Authority which administered the Hays Code wrote the producers that "To attempt to translate such a story to the screen even though it be re-written to conform to the provisions of the Production Code is, in our judgment, a very questionable undertaking from the standpoint of the good and welfare of this industry."<ref name='TCMarticle'/>

Breen objected to "illicit sexual relationships" between characters in the movie "without sufficient compensating moral values". He also objected to "the general suggestion of loose sex...which carries throughout the entire script." Breen was further concerned about the characterization of Cassandra as a victim of incest with her father, the mercy killing of the grandmother by Parris and "the sadistic characterization of Dr. Gordon."<ref name='TCMnotes'/>

[[File:Rains in Kings Row.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Dr. Tower ([[Claude Rains]]) commits [[incest]] with his daughter Cassandra in the novel. Censors forbade that in the film.]]

Breen said that any screenplay, no matter how well done, would likely bring condemnation of the film industry "from decent people everywhere" because of "the fact that it stems from so thoroughly questionable a novel. He said that the script was being referred to his superior, [[Will H. Hays|Will Hays]], "for a decision as to the acceptability of ''any'' production based upon the novel, ''Kings Row''."<ref name='Inside'>{{Cite book | last=Behlmer | first=Rudy | author-link=Rudy Behlmer | title=Inside Warner Bros. (1935–1951) | year=1985 | publisher=Viking | location=New York, NY, U.S.A.  | isbn=0-670-80478-9 | pages=135–141}}</ref>
 
Robinson, Wallis and associate producer [[David Lewis (producer)|David Lewis]]<ref name='Inside'/> met with Breen to resolve these issues with Wallis saying that the film would "illustrate how a doctor could relieve the internal destruction of a stricken community." Breen said that his office would approve the film if all references to incest, [[nymphomania]], [[euthanasia]] and [[homosexuality]] which the novel suggested, be removed. All references to nude bathing were to be eliminated and "the suggestion of a sex affair between Randy and Drake will be eliminated entirely." It was agreed that Dr. Tower would know about the affair between Cassandra and Parris and "that this had something to do with his killing of the girl."<ref name='Inside'/>

After several drafts were rejected, Robinson was able to satisfy Breen.<ref name='TCMarticle'/><ref name='Friedrich'/>

===Casting===
[[Twentieth-Century Fox]] originally sought to buy Bellamann's novel as a vehicle for [[Henry Fonda]].<ref name='TCMnotes'/> [[Philip Reed (actor)|Philip Reed]], Rex Downing, and [[Tyrone Power]] were considered for the role of Parris.<ref name='TCMnotes'/>  In April 1941, Robert Cummings was mentioned as the leading favorite if Power could not be borrowed.<ref>JIMMIE FIDLER IN HOLLYWOOD
Los Angeles Times 26 Apr 1941: A9.</ref> Cummings did a screen test and by May had the role.<ref>Louella O. Parsons': Close-Ups and Long-Shots Of the Motion Picture Scene The Washington Post 1 May 1941: 12.</ref> Cummings was tied up filming a [[Deanna Durbin]] film but the filmmakers were willing to postpone shooting for him.<ref>Judith Anderson Named for Two Major Roles: Old-timers to Appear Unknown 'Bell' Testee Holt's Daughter Cast Haley to Portray P.A. Drake Set for 'Dinner'
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 16 July 1941: 13.</ref> In September, filming was shut down for a week as Cummings was recalled to do reshoots on the Durbin film.<ref>SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 15 Sep 1941: 13.</ref><ref name="film">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/movie-star-cold-streaks-robert-cummings/|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=Movie Star Cold Streaks: Robert Cummings|date=29 October 2024|access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref>

[[Ida Lupino]], [[Olivia de Havilland]] and [[Ginger Rogers]] were initially considered for the role of Cassandra. Director Sam Wood pushed hard to cast Lupino saying that she "has a natural something that Cassie should have." Wood believed that de Havilland, who refused the role, was too mature for the part. Lupino also refused it despite Wallis' emphatic arguments saying that it was "beneath her as an artist."<ref name='Inside'/> [[Bette Davis]] wanted the part but the studio was against it because they believed that she would dominate the movie. Davis later suggested [[Betty Field]]. Among the other actresses considered for Cassandra were [[Katharine Hepburn]], [[Adele Longmire]], [[Marsha Hunt (actress, born 1917)|Marsha Hunt]], [[Laraine Day]], [[Susan Peters]], [[Joan Leslie]], [[Gene Tierney]] and [[Lane Sisters|Priscilla Lane]].<ref name="Friedrich" /><ref name="TCMnotes" /><ref name="Inside" />

[[James Stephenson (actor)|James Stephenson]] was originally cast as Dr. Tower but died, and was replaced by [[Claude Rains]].<ref>Generalship Wanes in Picture Business
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 31 July 1941: 6.</ref>

Before [[Ronald Reagan]] was cast, the studio considered [[John Garfield]] for the role of Drake McHugh.  So were [[Dennis Morgan]], [[Eddie Albert]], [[Robert Preston (actor)|Robert Preston]], and [[Franchot Tone]].<ref name='Friedrich'/><ref name='TCMnotes'/> Although Reagan became a star as a result of his performance, he was unable to capitalize on his success because he was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in World War II. He never regained the star status that he had achieved from his performance in the film.<ref name='Friedrich'/>

===Filming===
Filming started in July, 1941 and continued until October.<ref>{{cite web|website=Internet Archive|url=https://archive.org/details/govuscourtsca9briefs2422/page/n960?q=cummings+universal+%22run+him+ragged%22|title=United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth Circuit - Cummings vs Universal 1944|page=567}}</ref>

The pivotal scene in which Drake McHugh wakes up to find his legs amputated posed an acting challenge for Reagan who was supposed to say "Where's the rest of me?" in a convincing manner. In ''City of Nets'', [[Otto Friedrich]] noted that the movie had a formidable array of acting talent and the scene in which Reagan saw that his legs were gone was his "one great opportunity." Reagan recalled in his memoir that he had "neither the experience nor talent to fake it," so he undertook exhaustive research, talking to doctors and to people with disabilities and practicing the line every chance he got.<ref name='Friedrich'/>

On the night before the scene was shot, he had little sleep so he looked suitably worn out. Sam Wood shot the scene without rehearsal. He called out for Randy which was not in the script but Ann Sheridan was there and responded. The scene was extremely effective and there was no need for another take.<ref name='Friedrich'/>