I could have seen Cyd Charisse, Rita Hayworth, Kay Kendall, even Vivien Leigh play Aouda. Sophia Loren would have made a good Aouda, although she's a bit bosom-y for the part (I know Carlo Ponti would never have allowed her to do it). I think Shirley MacLaine is a wonderful, wonderful actress, but this just wasn't the best role for her. Who do you think would have been good in such an exotic role?
shareHow about Ava Gardner? In fact, that very year (1956) she did a role as a half-caste Indian woman in the movie "Bhowani Junction," opposite Stewart Granger. She would have been vastly superior to Shirley MacLaine who, though a likeable actress, was really quite wrong for the role of Aouda. It's worth noting that Ava was married to Frank Sinatra at the time, who had a cameo part in the movie.
Excellent idea--I'd forgotten all about "Bhowani".
shareAnd having an affair with Luis Miguel Dominguin, a Spanish bullfighter who plays himself in the movie.
shareShirley surely (sorry, I've been wanting to do that for years) didn't have a lot to do in this movie, except look decorative.🐭
shareWell someone who at least looks Indian for a start
sharethey could have been really adventurous and cast an indian actress.
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