Originally, this subject was offered by the Hakim brothers, who produced it, to Jean-Luc Godard to direct. Godard was anxious to sign Richard Burton for the leading role, but failed and then dropped out of the project. The Hakims instead obtained the services of another Welsh actor, Stanley Baker, who insisted on them hiring his friend Joseph Losey to direct.
The re-editing of the film by the Hakim brothers caused Joseph Losey unending heartbreak, as it was one of his most personal films, and he felt many of its most important scenes had been deleted. The film has, over the years, been seen in many different versions, but none was quite what Losey intended.
When Joseph Losey showed the complete version of this film to his old friend (and former assistant) Robert Aldrich, the latter told him immediately that he had never before seen a film where it was so obvious that the director was in love with the leading lady. Losey always insisted, however, that his long friendship with Jeanne Moreau, which began with this film, was entirely platonic.
Peggy Guggenheim's debut...
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