When she was interviewed by the London "News Chronicle" about her Oscar win, Wendy Hiller said she thought the Academy was crazy for giving it to her. "All you could see of me in the picture was the back of my head. Unless they give some award for acting with one's back to the camera, I don't see how I could have won. They cut my two best scenes and gave one to Rita Hayworth." She went on, "Never mind the honor, though I'm sure it's very nice of them. I hope this award means cash - hard cash. I want lots of lovely offers to go filming in Hollywood, preferably in the winter so I can avoid all the horrid cold over here."
With 23 minutes and 39 seconds of screen time, David Niven's performance is the shortest ever to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and the fourth-shortest to win in either leading category. Contrary to popular belief, Anthony Hopkins did not break Niven's record with his win for The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Hopkins' performance is 24 minutes and 52 seconds long.
Director Delbert Mann specifically filmed May Hallatt's pool shot in a long take with a moving camera - he wanted to show that a stand-in was not doing the trick for her. Unfortunately, the picture was taken from him and re-edited with the middle of the shot removed, destroying that effect.
David Niven hosted the Academy Awards ceremony for 1958. He is the only person ever to win an Academy Award at the ceremony where he was the host.
Laurence Olivier, the original director, wanted Spencer Tracy to play the role of John Malcolm. After producer Burt Lancaster decided he wanted to play the role, Olivier told him that either Tracy would get the part or both he and Vivien Leigh were off the picture. Lancaster stood his ground and fired Olivier.
