“The Notebook” hit theaters exactly 10 years ago today in 2004, and went on to gross over $115 million worldwide while launching the careers of its stars, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Want to see how it all began?
An audition tape (above) of McAdams delivering her first tear-jerking performance opposite Gosling shows the instant chemistry between the two stars, which is what producer Mark Johnson credits for the success of the movie.
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“You may have two great actors — the two best actors for the part individually — but if the chemistry isn’t there between the two of them, then that movie’s doomed,” Johnson said in a behind-the-scenes featurette exploring how the filmmakers found their romantic leads.
They had seen a total of ten actresses read opposite Gosling, but director Nick Cassavetes was blown away when “last-minute addition” McAdams ended their search.
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“We went around with a video camera, and we just looked up people that were working and interrupted them from their movies. And some of them were really, really, really great, but when Ms. McAdams came in and read, it was apparent that she was the one,” Cassavetes said. “I didn’t know who she was. It was somebody that was a last-minute addition.”
And for anyone here who is not a fan of the weepy romance about a southern couple overcoming social barriers to pursue their passion, here’s everything wrong with “The Notebook”:
