Editing Kings Row (section)

===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'/>