The flamboyant stage and screen star was strongly considered to appear opposite Bette Davis in the low-budget thriller that went on to create a box-office sensation and start a moviemaking trend.

When producer William Frye considered taking an option on the William Farrell novel in 1960, he and his friend, Bette Davis tried to get Hitchcock interested in directing. He declined, as he was busy promoting "Psycho" and trying to develop "The Birds" into a screenplay.