Anne Bancroft to Replace Patricia Neal in John Ford Film

Feb. 20, 1965 - Anne Bancroft will assume Patricia Neal’s starring role in MGM’s film “Seven Women,” it was disclosed today. 

Miss Neal, who suffered a brain hemorrhage Wednesday night, remains in critical condition at the Medical Center of UCLA. 

The 39-year-old Miss Neal, wife of writer Roald Dahl, was to have played the role of a cynical world-weary doctor who was imprisoned in Manchuria in 1935 with a group of Christian missionaries. She completed only one day of shooting. John Ford is the director.

Coincidentally, both Miss Neal and Miss Bancroft appeared in the Broadway production of “The Miracle Worker.” Miss Bancroft won an Academy Award as the best actress of 1962 for the film version, and Miss Neal won the award a year later for her role in “Hud.”

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