It was adapted by George Axelrod (who also co-wroteThe Seven Year Itch (1955)that also starred Marilyn Monroe) from the 1955 Broadway hit play by William Inge.8 and $2.5 million (and with domestic revenue of $3.27 million), it was one of he biggest productions of its era.(It was RKO""s second-most expensive film to date, topped only by the same year""sGunga Din (1939)).The sets were imposing, the cast was first rate, and the script (screenplay by Sonya Levien and adaptation by Bruno Frank) was engrossing.In actual fact, Stewart had been in a pre-war western, but it was a comedy spoof - director George Marshall""sDestry Rides Again (1939), playing the role of a pacifistic, unarmed Western hero.Knowing that he has not seen her daughter Elaine""s (Katharine Ross) portrait done the previous Christmas, she lures him up the stairs to Elaine""s bedroom.