▁characters . ▁It ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁truly ▁natural istic ▁" Austral ian " ▁theatre ▁produ ctions . ▁ ▁Film ▁adaptation ▁ ▁Development ▁The ▁play ▁premier ed ▁in ▁London ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 7 ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁big ▁hit . ▁Film ▁rights ▁were ▁purchased ▁by ▁He cht ▁Hill ▁Lanc aster ▁( H HL ) ▁for ▁a ▁reported ▁US ▁$ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁( or ▁£ 1 3 4 , 0 0 0 ). ▁The ▁play ▁had ▁reported ly ▁been ▁recommended ▁to ▁Harold ▁He cht ▁of ▁H HL ▁by ▁Laur ence ▁Oliv ier , ▁who ▁directed ▁the ▁London ▁production . ▁▁ ▁H HL ▁announced ▁the ▁film ▁would ▁be ▁part ▁of ▁a ▁ 1 2 - picture ▁sl ate ▁to ▁be ▁released ▁through ▁United ▁Art ists ; ▁other ▁films ▁included ▁Take ▁a ▁Gi ant ▁Step , ▁The ▁Un f org iven , ▁Rab bit ▁T rap ▁and ▁Cry ▁T ough . ▁In ▁its ▁announced ▁planning ▁D oll ▁would ▁star ▁B urt ▁Lanc aster ▁and ▁R ita ▁Hay worth ▁who ▁had ▁just ▁successfully ▁pa ired ▁in ▁H HL ' s ▁Se par ate ▁T ables , ▁a ▁film ▁which ▁coinc ident ly ▁featured ▁Australian ▁Rod ▁Taylor , ▁a ▁perfect ▁fit ▁were ▁initial ▁consider ations ▁to ▁proceed ▁for ▁the ▁young ▁bu ck ▁Dow d . ▁James ▁C ag ney ▁had ▁appeared ▁in ▁the ▁notifications ▁of ▁interest . ▁▁ ▁Carol ▁Re ed ▁was ▁originally ▁mentioned ▁as ▁a ▁possible ▁director ▁and ▁most ▁obser vers ▁thought ▁B urt ▁Lanc aster ▁would ▁play ▁Ro o