Jennifer Jones and David Selznick
One cannot discuss this film without discussing David Selznick. Mr. Selznick owned the property and for over 10 years tried to get it made first with Cary Grant as co star and George Cukor directing then at Columbia with Glenn Ford as Nick Diver. Finally the persistent Selznick was able to convince Sypros Skouras at 20th to film this story. When Selznick sold the property Ms. Jones came attached and 20th had to use Jennifer Jones who found great fame at 20th in Song of Bernadette and great acclaim at 20th in Ruby Gentry, Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit and Good Morning Ms. Dove. 20th was also the releasing firm for A Farewell to Arms. 20th was considered Jennifer Jones studio. Selznick bombarded 20th with memo's on all sorts of suggestions, and was the man most responsible for the selection of Henry King who directed Jennifer so well in Song of Bernadette and Love Is A Many Splendored Thing to an Oscar and an Oscar nomination respectively. Pierre Balmain of Paris did the clothes, George Masters the hairstyles and Leon Shamroy the camera. The story of the possible incest is touched briefly and for the early 60's as carefully as it could have.
Jennifer Jones a real movie star does a fine job as Nicole, as do Joan Fontaine as "Baby", and Jason Robards as Nick. (Jennifer personally discussed with William Holden do do Nick, but as has been noted elsewhere Holden who usually got along famously with his leading ladies and in fact romanced a few and Jennifer Jones clashed during Love Is A Many Splendored Thing and passed on an opportunity to co star with Jennifer again) I liked Paul Lukas, and Jill St. John was grating but then I think Rosemary is supposed to be. Tom Ewell got above the title casting after Jones-Robards-Fontaine but is annoying. This picture has 4 stars who either had won or would win Oscars: Jennifer Jones, Paul Lukas, Joan Fontaine and Jason Robards.
20th at Selznick's urging sent the company to Europe for location scenes in Zurich, Riveria and Paris, and in fact David Selznick found an old studio in Nice he suggested that 20th use for Interiors but they were done instead at 20th in Los Angeles.
Had David Selznick filmed this story it would have been a better picture but as it is Tender Is The Night is a lovely movie.