<P> The film was originally an American picture , to be filmed at the Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer studios in Culver City , California when preproduction began in 1957 . Ronald Colman was contracted for the leading role , but MGM shelved the project , bowing to pressure from religious groups that objected to the sinister depiction of virgin birth . Colman died in May 1958 -- by coincidence , his widow , actress Benita Hume , married actor George Sanders in 1959 , and Sanders took the role meant for Colman . </P>
<P> The film was originally an American picture , to be filmed at the Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer studios in Culver City , California when preproduction began in 1957 . Ronald Colman was contracted for the leading role , but MGM shelved the project , bowing to pressure from religious groups that objected to the sinister depiction of virgin birth . Colman died in May 1958 -- by coincidence , his widow , actress Benita Hume , married actor George Sanders in 1959 , and Sanders took the role meant for Colman . </P>
where was the original village of the damned filmed
where was the original village of the damned filmed
Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer studios in Culver City , California
Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer studios in Culver City , California