General George C. Marshall asked Cornell to do a play to entertain the troops in Europe. Cornell decided to take "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" to the troops in Europe as a touring production with the USO and the Special Services Division. However, the USO and the Division stated that no G.I. would sit for a three-hour costume drama about two middle-aged Victorian poets. They suggested an alternate, some sort of "ribald farce" in case "Barretts" proved a failure. Cornell prepared "Blithe Spirit," but nonetheless insisted upon "Barretts", saying that if she was going to entertain the soldiers, she must take them her very best, and her very best was "Barretts". The Army then asked that they cut the love scenes, as the play was far too long at three hours, wanted someone to "explain" the play to the men beforehand, and prepared her for what they saw as rude, tasteless and ignorant troops. The entire company, backed by Cornell and McClintic, resisted all entreaties and played their roles with every degree of authenticity as the Broadway original.