Early on, she relied a great deal on [first husband] Mel [Ferrer]. She was a good actress, had good instincts, but she got bad advice. We had a minor confrontation filming “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” I would rehearse a scene in the evening that we wanted to do the next morning. Then she would come in the next day with stuff that was so far removed from what we had agreed to do. I took the chance that it was coming from Mel and said, “Look, you’re going to have to make up your mind who’s directing this film. Either give me your confidence, or find another director.” You could see the concern on her face. But, God bless her, she said, “You’re right, Blackie,” which was her nickname for me, my black humor. I don’t know whether her men had a lasting effect on her career, but I’m quite sure they had a lasting effect on her personal life. She put up with terrible things. I don’t think she had the fun she was capable of having.
