Studio demands spelled disaster for Ava Gardner on set of The Angel Wore Red

Things weren't always so bleak for "The Angel Wore Red". In fact, there were a lot of promises before going into production. Veteran screenwriter and director Nunnally Johnson was handling the film and he had a string of hits under his belt. From "The Grapes of Wrath" to "The Man in the Gray Suit," Johnson knew how to handle a script and could direct people. With his inclusion alone, the movie should have been a hit.

Gardner herself was also reportedly incredibly enthusiastic about taking on the role of Soledad. A woman in possession of vulnerability and giving off damsel-in-distress type vibes, this marked a slight turn for Gardner away from seductive roles. There was room for exploration in the role of peasant-turned-sex worker, where she could allow herself to step away from the glamorous image that had imprisoned her.

Unfortunately, MGM lacked courage in its plans. Gardner's co-star Dirk Bogarde recalled in Ava Gardner: A Life in Movies the experience: "We shot for the truth...she wore no makeup, a horrible old dress, it was fine After three weeks, MGM saw the first set of rushes, had tantrums, ordered the whole three weeks back with Ava dressed by Valentina, shoes by Ferragamo, makeup, ta ta ta ta. we all gave in and did as we were told and the movie was a disaster. Financially and spiritually the movie failed.