Trivia
In the scene where Major Weldon Penderton gives a lecture on leadership, a subject for which he is ill-suited, Marlon Brando asked producer and director John Huston for another take after delivering what Huston considered to be a superb performance. In the second take, Brando delivered a different line reading that was equally brilliant. When it came time to cut this movie, Huston was baffled over which of the takes to use, as each was superb and relevant to the character.
Originally released in a version in which all scenes were suffused with the color gold and one object in each scene (such as a rose) appeared normally colored. This was done in reference to the houseboy's statement regarding the golden peacock in a drawing that he shows to Alison: he states that the world is just a reflection in the eye of the golden peacock. However, that version puzzled audiences so it was withdrawn and a normal color version released. The DVD issued in 2020 by Warner Archive includes both versions.
The role of Major Penderton was physically demanding. Thus, the insurance company underwriting the production required proof that Montgomery Clift - the original choice for the role - was fit enough for the role after his years of illness. Clift's long-time friend Dame Elizabeth Taylor committed her large salary as insurance in order to secure Clift for the role. However, Clift subsequently died of a heart attack before filming began, and the role went to Marlon Brando.
John Huston wanted Carson McCullers, the author of "Reflections in a Golden Eye", to write the screenplay for the movie version, but she was too ill.
In the Turner Classic Movies documentary on Marlon Brando, Martin Scorsese talks about the scene in which Brando stands in front of a mirror talking to himself as he inspects his dress uniform. He says that it inspired the infamous "Are you talkin' to me?" moment with Robert De Niro for Taksikuski (1976).
Francis Ford Coppola did some uncredited writing on the screenplay.
Richard Burton and Lee Marvin turned down the role of Major Weldon Penderton, before Marlon Brando agreed to do it for $750,000 and 10% of the profits.
Amongst his own movies, this was one of producer and director John Huston's personal favorites.
In his memoirs, Marlon Brando revealed that he didn't enjoy working with John Huston during production. He wasn't particularly impressed by Huston as a director or as a human being.
For the role of Major Waldon Penderton, John Huston wanted Patrick O'Neal, who had previously starred in the Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana". However, Dame Elizabeth Taylor rejected Huston's suggestion, along with his alternate choices of Richard Burton and Lee Marvin. Instead, she wanted Marlon Brando.
Stills of Marlon Brando's character were used in his Ilmestyskirja. Nyt. (1979) character's dossier.
In his autobiography, "An Open Book", John Huston recalled how he met with Marlon Brando to offer him the role of Major Waldon Penderton. Initially, Brando rejected the role, feeling that he was not suited for the part. Huston then encouraged Brando to read the script and then to make a decision. After he had read the script, Brando took a very long walk in the rain, then came back to Huston and told him he wanted the part.
Producers Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster planned to adapt the book in 1956 with a script by Tennessee Williams and with Michael Anderson directing.
Uncredited theatrical movie debut of Harvey Keitel (Soldier).
Theatrical movie debut of Robert Forster (Private L.G. Williams). He continued to appear in films until his passing in 2019.
The Nov 1, 1967 issue of Variety revealed that Elizabeth Taylor used a body double for her nude scene.
The only theatrical movie performances of Zorro David (Anacleto) and Irvin Dugan (Weincheck).
The DVD release from Warner Brothers contains the version that was originally intended for general release; i.e., where the movie was shot in a color similar to gold.
Producer and director John Huston offered William Holden and Robert Mitchum the role of Major Weldon Penderton.
Ava Gardner was announced for the role of Leonora Penderton in 1964.
The final 10 weeks of shooting took place at Dino de Laurentiis Studios in Rome to accommodate Elizabeth Taylor. During this time Brando had an aggressive incident with the Italian paparazzi.
This movie has two connections to Ilmestyskirja. Nyt. (1979). It has Marlon Brando and Harvey Keitel, who co-starred in the movie until Keitel was replaced by Martin Sheen, and photos of Brando's character were used in Apocalypse Now (1979) as photos of his character at a younger age.
The cast includes two Oscar winners: Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando; and three Oscar nominees: Julie Harris, Robert Forster, and Harvey Keitel.
Elizabeth Taylor's husband Richard Burton was none too fond of some of her coworkers on this film. Of director John Huston he opined, "Huston is a simpleton. But believes himself to be a genius. And a self aggrandizing liar." Costume designer Dorothy Jeakins is described as a "...consummate bore...She makes me want to fart in public or pee on the carpet...There are worse people in the world I suppose. Like Jack the Ripper."
Both Weldon and Morris wear a heavy gold ring with a large black stone. These rings are typical of West Point class rings that use the school colors of black and gold.
Marlon Brando and Dame Elizabeth Taylor portrayed historic lovers Marc Antony and Cleopatra in separate movies, Brando in Julius Caesar (1953) and Taylor in Kleopatra (1963).
Prologue/Epilogue: "There is a fort in the South where a few years ago a murder was committed--Carson McCullers"
