Dawson Casting: Although Carol says she's seventeen, Jo Ann Harris was actually 22.
Enforced Method Acting: There's a scene where Clint Eastwood's character kisses Amy to keep her quiet. According to actress Pamelyn Ferdin, the script had it written for him to cover her mouth with his hand and it had been rehearsed that way. Don Siegel suggested the change without telling her about it.
Clint Eastwood was in awe of Geraldine Page, because of her acclaim on the New York stage, and he feared she might not enjoy working with him. However, the first day of set, Geraldine went up to him to say what a fan she was of the show Rawhide and of him specifically.
Pamelyn Ferdin says she also got on very well with Clint Eastwood, as he had two daughters her age and they bonded over that. He nicknamed her "little dove" and presented her with a gift of two doves when the shoot ended.
Playing Against Type: This was one of the earliest attempts to break Clint Eastwood out of his tough guy persona. This backfired when Universal decided to market it as a typical Clint Eastwood action movie, and he was so annoyed at this, he made only one more film with them to fulfill his contract and swore off working with them again.
The first draft of the script had a happier ending, in which John survives and lives happily ever after, but Clint Eastwood felt an ending truer to the novel was preferable.
Jeanne Moreau was Don Siegel's first choice for the Geraldine Page part, but Universal chief Lew Wasserman vetoed the idea.
Working Title: Other titles contemplated by Universal Pictures were Pussy-footing Down at the Old Plantation and On One I Walked.
2017 version
Actor-Inspired Element: John actually is Irish in the original book, and Colin Farrell pushed for him to use his natural accent for a change.
Dear Negative Reader: Sofia Coppola defended cutting Hallie out of the film, thus leaving it with an all-white cast, by saying she didn't want to depict a slave in light of impressionable female audiences who might see her film.
Defied. Kirsten Dunst refused the request to lose weight for her role, as she'd already been through an intense diet for Woodshock.
Colin Farrell had gained weight for The Killing Of A Sacred Deer right before this shoot, and had only six weeks to lose it for The Beguiled.
Enforced Method Acting: Angourie Rice was legitimately afraid of Colin Farrell during his dark scenes. The only way she could snap out of it was recalling a conversation he had with her about granola bars.
Method Acting: The actresses took lessons on sewing, corset training, etiquette, dancing and how to dress wounds. They were also instructed to cook and eat together.
