It doesn't seem possible that MGM would have approved the screenplay that Christopher Isherwood and Robert Thoeren fashioned out of James Hilton's novel. Full of inconsistencies, character motivations, unexplained actions, and abrupt dramatic unfolding, this screenplay was not ready for production.
Perhaps MGM was in the throes of its "dream factory" rush to get the project rolling that some exec simply skimmed over the inept script. What ever the case, the company put its full weight behind it, securing Robert Montgonery, Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders to head an excellent cast.
Director W. S. Van Dyke II's "efficient shooting style" didn't help matters, as the entire enterprise seemed rushed and erratic. If the cast and crew were upset, it's understandable. Here's a rather mediocre piece of work that had the potential for excellence. A pity.
Perhaps MGM was in the throes of its "dream factory" rush to get the project rolling that some exec simply skimmed over the inept script. What ever the case, the company put its full weight behind it, securing Robert Montgonery, Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders to head an excellent cast.
Director W. S. Van Dyke II's "efficient shooting style" didn't help matters, as the entire enterprise seemed rushed and erratic. If the cast and crew were upset, it's understandable. Here's a rather mediocre piece of work that had the potential for excellence. A pity.