 Jack L. Warner liked the story, but Warner Bros.'s biggest star Bette Davis was uninterested, and Darryl Zanuck of 20th Century-Fox did not offer enough money.Selznick changed his mind after his story editor Kay Brown and business partner John Hay Whitney urged him to buy the film rights.In July 1936—a month after it was published—Selznick bought the rights for $50,000.