West 11 (1963)

Curiosità

West 11 is a 1963 British crime film directed by Michael Winner and starring Alfred Lynch, Kathleen Breck, Eric Portman, Diana Dors, and Kathleen Harrison. It is based on Laura Del-Rivo's debut novel The Furnished Room (1961), adapted for the screen by Willis Hall and Keith Waterhouse. Set in west London, the title is taken from the postcode W11.

Production

In 1962, it was announced the film version would be made by Associated British starring Claudia Cardinale and directed by Joseph Losey. The job of directing eventually went to Michael Winner, who had made a number of low-budget movies including Play It Cool (1962). Winner said the film "had been turned down by a lot of people" and producer Danny Angel had "just sacked Joseph Losey because he was going to turn it into a film that Mr.

Michael Winner wanted to cast Sean Connery, Oliver Reed, Julie Christie and James Mason but says the producer overruled him. Winner used Reed in his next movie, The System (1964) Winner later said:

We had Sarah Miles who left at short notice. At the time Julie Christie was under contract to Rank. She'd done some bad comedies but I always thought she was marvellous. The producer didn't even want to test her because she'd been tested for a great many films and been rejected, including Billy Liar which she was later taken for because the girl who was chosen became ill.

Michael Winner said Angel "turned down Sean Connery for the other lead because he, too, was a B-picture actor, and James Mason for the villain because he was past it. We ended up with Alfred Lynch (an excellent actor but not Sean Connery), Kathleen Breck (an excellent actress but not Julie Christie) and Eric Portman, who was so good I didn't mind."

Diana Dors returned from Los Angeles where she was then living to make the movie.

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