 Edmund Goulding (qv) was first attached to the project as  director. He wanted Irene Dunne (qv) to play Charlotte Vale. When  Goulding fell ill, however, the project passed to  Michael Curtiz (qv), who had either Norma Shearer (qv) or  Ginger Rogers (qv) in mind for the lead. In the meantime,  Bette Davis (qv) was lobbying hard for the part. She was able to  convince producer Hal B. Wallis (qv) that she would make a perfect  Charlotte Vale, but she refused to work with Curtiz. Consequently  Irving Rapper (qv) landed the directors job.