Maureen O'Hara O'Hara beat Lauren Bacall to the role as she was busy with other engagements. Though the film was critically acclaimed, Crowther of "The New York Times" felt that the characters of O'Hara and the daughter could have been made "more humorous and spirited than they are". The following year, O'Hara appeared in the CBS television film, "Mrs. Miniver", but despite some critics approving her performance, most thought that the remake was ill-timed and that she could not top Greer Garson's performance in the 1942 Oscar-winning film. In 1961, O'Hara portrayed Kit Tilden in the western "The Deadly Companions", Sam Peckinpah's
John Hodiak "box office poison" by exhibitors at the end of 1948. Hodiak was down the cast list for "The Bribe" (1949). He was second billed in MGM's war film "Battleground" (1949) a huge success. Also popular was "Malaya" (1949) where Hodiak supported James Stewart and Spencer Tracy. Hodiak was a love rival for Robert Taylor in "Ambush" (1950), a popular Western. MGM gave him another lead role, co-starring with Hedy Lamarr in "A Lady Without Passport" (1950), but it lost money. He was third billed in "The Miniver Story" (1950), the flop sequel to "Mrs. Miniver", and fourth lead in "Night