Quotes

[on being forced to shoot Tower of London (1962) in black and white] Never make a picture in black and white. "Tower of London" was as if we were making a silent film when everyone else was using sound.

[on veteran heavy Leo Gordon, with whom he worked on Tobruk (1967)] Leo was a very burly, tough fellow, but--his background belied his looks . . . he was a very witty, interesting conversationalist. In many ways, his appearance in those tough-guy roles probably worked to his disadvantage, because to have Leo walk into a story conference was somewhat intimidating! I remember on "Tobruk" [Gordon not only acted in but wrote the screenplay for the film] having [director] Arthur Hiller, who is really a very fey, gentle soul, taken aback when he met Leo--it took maybe two or three story conferences before he could come to grips with the size and bulk of Leo! The way he presented himself was intimidating.

[on The Intruder (1962)] "The Intruder" was a film that [brother Roger Corman] and I always wanted to make, and it violated some of our basic precepts. We got ourselves so caught up in "The Intruder" that it was the only film that he and I personally financed that lost money.

[on filming The Intruder (1962)] We were run out of Sikeston, Missouri, the Klan [Ku Klux Klan] came after us, they threatened us--Christ, I'd never gone through such an experience before in my life! And wearing glasses was no protection!