 This film was originally to be filmed in black and white, as was the  standard practice with "artistic" films in the 1950s. (Virtually all  film adaptations of Williamss work had been in b&w up to this  time.) However, once Newman and Taylor were cast in the lead,  director Brooks insisted on shooting in color, in deference to the  publics well known enthusiasm for Taylors violet and Newmans  strikingly blue eyes.