BACKSTORY

The Gift of Love reunited Lee with two of her dear friends, Delbert
Mann, with whom she had made three films, and Angela Lansbury,
whom she had known since 1958 when she made The Long Hot
Summer.

Both Lee and Angela adored Mann, with Angela echoing Lee's
feelings when she said, "Delbert Mann is one of the dearest and
most talented directors I have had the pleasure of working with."
Mann returned the compliment saying, "We were incredibly fortunate
to obtain three of my most favorite actresses in the world; Lee
Remick, Angela Lansbury and Polly Holliday for the three leads."

Delbert Mann is known for being a serious and hard working
director, yet he knows how to have fun on his sets. One of his
assistant directors, Mike Haley, was famous for practical jokes
and Mann tells of one that occurred on the set of The Gift of Love.

Mike Haley pulled one of his stunts on Lee by "knocking
on the door in the middle of one of Lee's scenes. She
went to answer it. Instead of the actor who was supposed
to be there it was Mike, an apron covering him, holding a
pizza on a tray. He asked who had ordered pizza. Lee
started to laugh and then Mike turned away, revealing his
bare behind as he walked away. Everyone on the set came
quite unglued, Lee most of all."