What Could Have Been: The documentary was actually a fluke. The filmmakers had been planning to make a movie about the childhood of Lee Radziwill, the sister of Jacqueline Kennedy. Through their research, they were introduced to the Beales. Finding them more interesting, they abandoned their earlier idea and produced Grey Gardens instead.
The HBO film:
Enforced Method Acting: Drew Barrymore isolated herself from friends and family while filming to better channel Little Edie's isolation.
The black bathing suit with yellow flowers is not a reproduction; it's a vintage piece from the same batch that Little Edie owned in real life. It belonged to a fan of the original documentary, who lent it to the filmmakers.
Gould's costume includes a diamond ring, something Edith Beale gave him in real life. The ring in the film is the same one he was given; his relatives gave it to the production.
