Costar feuds are as old as Hollywood itself. Just like today, Golden Age actors often pretended to love each other onscreen while allegedly hating each other off camera.
Here are 11 Old Hollywood costars who allegedly didn’t get along:
1.
Frank Sinatra originally wanted the role of Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, but he was cast as Nathan Detroit instead. He reportedly experienced dislike at first sight with Marlon Brando, who landed the leading role.
2.
After Marlon Brando put his hands on Sophia Loren without her consent on the set of A Countess From Hong Kong, she “turned in all tranquility and blew [in] his face, like a cat stroked the wrong way, and said, ‘Don’t you ever dare to do that again. Never again!’”
3.
After costarring with Veronica Lake in Sullivan’s Travels, Joel McCrea reportedly said he wouldn’t work with her again.
5.
Humphrey Bogart allegedly accused William Holden of trying to kill him while filming a motorcycle stunt for Invisible Stripes.
7.
Patricia Neal was reportedly originally “thrilled” to work with George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. However, she soon saw that, since the last time she’d seen him, “he had grown so cold and conceited.” Eventually, she “hated” him.
8.
Per the BBC, Joan Fontaine reportedly said her Rebecca costar Laurence Olivier disliked her because he wanted her part to go to Vivian Leigh, his wife.
9.
In her 2013 memoir Unsinkable, Debbie Reynolds wrote that her Singin’ in the Rain costar/director Gene Kelly was a “cruel taskmaster.” She said, “He came to rehearsals and criticized everything I did and never gave me a word of encouragement.”
10.
In her 1982 memoir This ‘N That, Bette Davis wrote, “In all my years as an actress, I have only criticized two actresses with whom I have worked. The first is [my The Old Maid and Old Acquaintance costar] Miriam Hopkins.”
11.
And finally, per Harper’s Bazaar, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s infamous feud began in 1933, when news of Joan’s divorce from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. overshadowed Betty’s Ex-Lady publicity campaign. After three decades of drama, their conflict came to a head on the set of What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, the only movie they ever made together. Their dislike of each other reportedly led to physical altercations on camera.
What’s the most surprising Old Hollywood fact you know? Share it in the comments!
