Secret Ceremony

When this movie aired on NBC several years later, it was not only heavily edited to sanitize some of the seamier sexual suggestions, but also included newly shot footage (none involving any of the actors or actresses who appeared in the actual movie: Michael Tolan, Paul Rogers), including a prologue and epilogue in which a psychiatrist character discussed the characters' failings and attempted to explain away the truncated movie's many plot holes. Amongst other major changes was the profession of Leonora Grabowski (Dame Elizabeth Taylor), who somehow morphed from a prostitute in the theatrical release to a wig model in the television version.Of the TV version, director Losey said: "not one person connected artistically with the film was consulted or involved in those changes. They're absurd...completely destroyed the rhythm, intention and content of the film...absolutely reversing the meaning of the film."

Robert Douglas and Michael Strong were not in the theatrical version of this movie, appearing only in scenes added to it for American television showings. These scenes were shot in Hollywood by a different director and crew several months after this movie's theatrical release. Director Joseph Losey neither authorized nor approved of these changes, which he described as "absolutely illegal". This severely amended version was, fortunately, withdrawn from circulation eventually.

But probably the most important part of the casting was the spooky residence where the eccentric tale unfolds--Debenham House, in London's affluent Holland Park district, "an art nouveau mansion tiled in peacock blue and emerald green and filled with the lustre of light and dark woods, leaded glass, Venetian galleries, post-Pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows and De Morgan mosaics." At 8 Addison Road, was designed by the eminent architect Halsey Ricardo for Ernest Debenham, the department store magnate, built between 1896 and 1904. The house was empty and dilapidated, offering [production designer] Richard Macdonald a "pretext for extravagant restoration and furnishing." The large bathroom and adjoining bedroom used by Leonora Grabowski (Dame Elizabeth Taylor) were constructed on a studio soundstage.

Julie Christie turned down the role of Cenci Engelhard. Several actresses such as Marianne Faithful were considered for Cenci until screenwriter Tabori's ex-wife actress Viveca Lindfors suggested Mia Farrow, who was in the middle of a traumatic breakup with husband Frank Sinatra.

During filming, Robert Mitchum persuaded Mia Farrow to turn down the Mattie Ross part in True Grit (1969) by telling her that director Henry Hathaway would be too difficult to work with.