Trivia / What a Way to Go!

• All-Star Cast: Shirley MacLaine and her four husbands: Dick Van Dyke, Robert Mitchum, Paul Newman and Gene Kelly. Five, actually; she ends up with Dean Martin.
• Prop Recycling: The matte painting used for the "Flaming Lips" premiere is the same used for the Royal Rascal and The Dancing Cavalier premieres in Singin' in the Rain.
• What Could Have Been:
  • The lead role of Louisa May Foster was originally intended for Marilyn Monroe as part of a new contract with 20th Century Fox in which Monroe would also return to complete the already troubled "Something's Got to Give" (which Monroe had recently been fired from not long before). Monroe's death scuttled the latter project and on this film resulted in the casting of Shirley MacLaine.
  • After Monroe's death, Elizabeth Taylor was considered to star. Actors sought to play her husbands included Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis—none of whom appeared in the final film.
  • Sinatra was the first choice to play Rod Anderson. When Darryl F. Zanuck balked at his salary demand, Robert Mitchum agreed to play the role at no fee for tax purposes.
  • In January 1963, J. Lee Thompson said he was confident about Sinatra, Marlon Brando and David Niven playing husbands. In April 1963 Hedda Hopper reported that Steve McQueen (actor) would star in the film.
  • Producer Arthur P. Jacobs wanted Charlton Heston for the role of Larry Flint.
  • Fred MacMurray was originally announced to play a sixth husband, a role cut from the script before shooting began.
  • Gene Kelly originally had the rights to the story, intending to direct it.
• Working Title: I Love Louisa.

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