At this time of her career, Dame
Elizabeth Taylor's career was in the doldrums. She was 48 years old, hadn't had a decent hit film in years, her marriage to US politician
John Warner was struggling, she was taking anti-depressants, and she had put on weight. When
Rock Hudson was approached to do the film, he said he would only do it if his long-time friend Taylor could also be cast. The producers had assumed that Taylor's salary demands would put the film well over budget and were lining up
Donald Pleasence as a possible alternative to Hudson. However, Hudson said that he could get Taylor to agree to star with him for the same salary he was being offered. Hudson convinced Taylor that coming to England for a few weeks to do a mainstream film with him, Dame
Angela Lansbury, and
Tony Curtis (people Taylor had known for about 30 years) would be beneficial for her mental health, plus give her a chance to catch up with old friends who lived there.