 Leigh appeared with Robert Taylor , Lionel Barrymore and Maureen O 'Sullivan in A Yank at Oxford ( 1938 ) , the first of her films to receive attention in the United States . During production , she developed a reputation for being difficult and unreasonable , partly because she disliked her secondary role but mainly because her petulant antics seemed to be paying dividends . After dealing with the threat of a lawsuit brought over a frivolous incident , Korda , however , instructed her agent to warn her that her option would not be renewed if her behaviour did not improve . Her next role was in Sidewalks of London , also known as St. Martin 's Lane ( 1938 ) , with Charles Laughton . 
