Ray Milland : Hatred for Brian Donlevy - BEAU GESTE?

Hatred for Brian Donlevy - BEAU GESTE?

I just saw a special on TCM on William Wellman the director who did BEAU GESTE and he relates a story about how Milland so hated Donlevy he actually stabbed him during a sequence that made the film and subsequently Wellman mentions at the wrap party that Milland got drunk and then apologized to the crew for his behavior and asked if he could be accepted as one of the guys. I think I may have heard Weldman wrong when he was discussing this and think he actually was referring to Donlevy as the mea culpa seeker? Can anyone substantiate this?

"I'll have a steak sandwich...and a steak sandwich"

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Re: Hatred for Brian Donlevy - BEAU GESTE?

It was Donlevy apologizing, but in a printed interview, Wellman said it happened after Donlevy came back from having his wound attended. Apparently Donlevy was annoying numerous lesser members of the cast, and in general acting like a prima donna. But when something happened to upset Milland enough, he got his "revenge" by injuring his co-star.

Wellman, who was known as "Wild Bill" said more than once that Ray Milland was the toughest guy he ever knew. This is a guy who worked with John Wayne, clark Gable and Robert Mitchum. so that's saying a lot.

It ain't easy being green, or anything else, other than to be me

Re: Hatred for Brian Donlevy - BEAU GESTE?

OK; THANKS

"I'll have a steak sandwich...and a steak sandwich"

Re: Hatred for Brian Donlevy - BEAU GESTE?

Donlevy played the villain in Beau Geste, and in an early example of Method acting, he wanted the rest of the cast to hate him, to make their on-screen conflicts more believable. And he apparently went out of his way to be obnoxious to everyone else. Donlevy also received a well-earned Oscar nomination for his efforts.

Donlevy and Milland worked together again later at Paramount and were on friendly terms.

What I'm really interested in is why Milland and Marlene Dietrich hated each other while making Golden Earrings. Most of their other co-stars over the years loved them.

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