Cooper admitted later that he regretted having turned down the chance to star as an American newspaper man caught in a web of spies in Alfred Hitchcock's classic.

Gary Cooper was seriously considered for the part of Rhett Butler.

Gary Cooper was director Frank Capra's first choice to play Jefferson Smith.

Gary Cooper was considered for the role of the phony preacher which eventually went to Robert Mitchum.

Director Howard Hawks originally offered the starring role in his masterrful Western to Cooper, who declined it because he felt the role was too driven and ruthless to suit his screen image.

Gary Cooper turned down the chance to work for director Alfred Hitchcock, who wanted him to play an innocent man on the run.

Legendary producer David O. Selznick refused to make this classic Western unless Gary Cooper played "The Ringo Kid."

Cooper declined the great role of "Norman Maine," the major movie star aging and falling on hard times.