The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
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Wednesday 11 July 1973 on NBC

Johnny is joined tonight by Ben Gazzara, Merle Oberon, David Steinberg and Johnny Mathis.

Merle's injuries in an automobile accident in 1937 gave her then-husband Alexander Korda the excuse needed to cancel his production of I, Claudius, which already was beset with problems in production, including cost over-runs and arguments between him and Charles Laughton, who was to play Claudius. (edit) Merle was set to star in The Garden Of Allah (1935) but producer David O'Selznick paid her off to give the role to Marlene Dietrich. (edit) Merle was first choice for the role of Fanny Skeffington in Mr. Skeffington (1944) but turned down the part and it went to Bette Davis, (edit) Merle went to great lengths to hide her half-Indian heritage for fear of racial persecution, including having her darker-skinned mother pose as her maid when she came to live with her in 1940. (edit) Merle appeared in a 1947 magazine ad for Rogers Silverplate silverware. (edit)

Merle Oberon: Even when I was single, I owned homes and gardens. I buy beauty when other women buy jewels. Land is security to me. I need gardens that are mine to walk on. (edit) Merle Oberon: Without security it is difficult for a woman to look or feel beautiful. (edit)

Star
Assignment Foreign Legion Host

Guest Star
Assignment Foreign Legion Finger Your Neck Anne/Carla	Assignment Foreign Legion The Baroness The Baroness
Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre Allison, Ltd.	Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre Second Sight Sara Belmont
Four Star Playhouse Love At Sea Margot Sterling	Four Star Playhouse The Frightened Woman Carol