Friendly Persuasion was made for $3 million. By 1960, it had grossed $8 million.

Jessamyn West was a first cousin of Richard Nixon and even attended Sunday school classes taught by his father.

When William Wyler's assistant, Stuart Millar, first contacted West about working on Friendly Persuasion, she had never even heard of the director. She had, however, seen and admired many of his films. That and the fact that Millar had actually read her novel helped convince her to meet with him to discuss the film version.

One of the film's shooting titles was Mr. Birdwell Goes to Battle, an obvious echo of Gary Cooper's earlier Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936).

Although his screen credit read "Introducing Anthony Perkins," Friendly Persuasion was actually the actor's second film. He had had so many problems working with George Cukor on his first film, The Actress (1953), that he hoped his credit here would help erase from public memory his official debut in The Actress.

One of Perkins's best scenes, the battle scene in which he shoots someone for the first time and breaks down in tears, was shot by the second unit. When he asked for a moment to prepare, the assistant director refused for fear of losing the light. The property man, Tommy Plews, stood up for the younger actor, so he got the time he needed to get the performance just right.

Perkins had not yet learned how to drive at the time Friendly Persuasion was shot. Each morning he hitchhiked to the Allied Artists studios, where limousines were waiting to drive the cast to the shooting location. He often told drivers he was the stand-in for a hot young actor named Anthony Perkins, for whom they should watch in upcoming films.

In addition to briefly dating Gary Cooper's daughter, during production Perkins also dated Maila Nurmi, better known as TV horror host Vampira, and started his relationship with actor Tab Hunter.

Memorable Quotes from FRIENDLY PERSUASION

"I want you to know, sir, I honor your prejudices -- um, uh, convictions." -- Walter Catlett, as Prof. Waldo Quigley

"If thee talked as much to the Almighty as thee dost to thy horse, thee'd have a much better understanding." -- Dorothy McGuire, as Eliza Birdwell, to Gary Cooper, as Jess Birdwell.

"A man's life ain't worth a hill of beans except he lives up to his conscience." -- Cooper, as Jess Birdwell

"I don't want to die. I don't think I could kill anyone if I tried. But I have to try, so long as other people have to." -- Cooper, as Jess

Compiled by Frank Miller