The experience seemed to be a troublesome one for the mentally fragile actress, though.
One night of January 1953, she decided to wake-up Peter Finch and his wife and propose the Australian actor to share the screen with her in a film called The Elephant Walk that they would shoot in Ceylon. In it, she would be a young British bride brought to a big mansion in India by her new millionaire husband, owner of a tea plantation. The latter neglects his wife and she becomes more and more attached to one of his friends, played by Dana Andrews.
One night of January 1953, she decided to wake-up Peter Finch and his wife and propose the Australian actor to share the screen with her in a film called The Elephant Walk that they would shoot in Ceylon. In it, she would be a young British bride brought to a big mansion in India by her new millionaire husband, owner of a tea plantation. The latter neglects his wife and she becomes more and more attached to one of his friends, played by Dana Andrews.
Vivien had an ulterior motive for wanting Finch as her co-star: he was her lover. Laurence Olivier, her husband, although in the know of his misfortune, felt it would be good for Vivien’s health to be back to work in the country she was born in. Also, her problems were a lot for him to handle. She was a nymphomaniac and was dangerously close to a nervous breakdown.
The production had a big budget but it seemed worth it: the main cast was to travel to Ceylon to give the film the required authenticity the subject needed.
Leigh and Andrews on their way back |
Olivier, Leigh and cast at Orly airport |
Back in Hollywood, Leigh, Finch and Dieterle |
Cecil B. DeMille visiting Vivien on the set at Paramount |
Studio recreation with a projection backdrop |
Original scene with Vivien |
Unusable exterior shot with Vivien |
...same scene, with Taylor |
With Vivien... |
Unfortunately, a film could not hide its heroin very long and many shots
Dieterle preparing the cobra scene |
Vivien on location |
Replacement scene in the studio |
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That's all for today folks!
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