After success of teaming Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, Director Aldrich wanted to recreate the pairing. Problems between Davis and Crawford forced Crawford to leave the film.

Katharine was offered the role of Miriam Deering but she turned it down.

She refused the role of Miriam, telling director Robert Aldrich via Western Union, "I could just about look at Joan Crawford's face on a Southern plantation at 6:00 in the morning; I couldn't possibly look at Bette Davis's."

Barbara Stanwyck turned down the showy supporting role of Jewel Mayhew.

Thought the role of Miriam was wrong for her.