 Joan Crawford (I) (qv) took sick and was hospitalized as filming  began (see above) so scenes were shot around her, but when it became  evident that she would have to be replaced, her role was offered to  Katharine Hepburn (qv) and Vivien Leigh (qv). Hepburn didnt  return the studios call, while Leigh declined, saying, "No, thank  you. I can just about stand looking at Joan Crawford (I) (qv)s  face at six oclock in the morning, but not Bette Davis (qv)."  Eventually, Robert Aldrich (qv) flew to Switzerland and convinced  Olivia de Havilland (qv) to step in.