Whom the Gods Love

Basil Dean was one of the co founders of Ealing Studios ,he was managing director,producer and director.His partners were the Courtauld family. Dean was married to Vickie Hopper who was cast as the wife of Motzart.It is one of 3 mistakes he admits to his autobiography.The second was the casting of Stephen Haggard as Motzart.He admits that the part needed a star.Haggard is hopeless.The third was to concentrate on Motzarts private life.For this he blamed the writer. The film was very expensive and went well over budget.Furthermore he found it a had sell to cinema bookers.He asked one Manchester exhibitor if he would book it.The reply was "over my dead body"'So not surprisingly this film was a financial disaster.The Coutraulds told Dean that they felt betrayed.When he wrote his book in 1973 he still felt remorse.Even then he could not understand why he made the film.I am bound to agree with him.