© DR - WALK ON THE WILD SIDE de Edward Dmytryk (1962) p40 par tellurikwaves blog (75 Paris)

The first Hollywood film to openly feature lesbianism. By appearing in the movie, Barbara Stanwyck became the first American actress to portray a lesbian character in a feature film.

During the filming, Capucine objected to filming kissing scenes with Laurence Harvey, feeling that he was not manly enough for her. Harvey reportedly replied, "Perhaps if you were more of a woman, I would be more of a man. Honey, kissing you is like kissing the side of a beer bottle."

According to Penny Stallings' 'Flesh and Fantasy', when Barbara Stanwyck first encountered Laurence Harvey on the set lounging in his gold brocade bathrobe and drinking champagne, she walked up to him and said, "All right, Larry, let's go! Get your ass in gear. We've got a picture to make, and I don't have time for prima donnas!" After a moment of silence, this struck Harvey as highly amusing and he burst into laughter. He and Stanwyck immediately became friends.

Several contemporary reviewers mentioned that, although the film was set in the 1930s, Capucine seemed to be wearing contemporary (1962) fashions. Director Edward Dmytryk stated that it was because she was the "protege" of producer Charles K. Feldman, who decreed that, despite the film's 1930s setting, she would be dressed in the latest Pierre Cardin designs.

Anne Baxter was pregnant during the filming.

Before Brook Benton was hired to sing the movie's theme song, it was offered to Ray Charles, who turned it down because he didn't like the song and wasn't interested in singing a movie theme. Five years later, Charles performed a similar song at the beginning of "In the Heat of the Night."

CINEMA :Les blessures narcissiques d'une vie par procuration

© DR - WALK ON THE WILD SIDE de Edward Dmytryk (1962) p40