Trivia / The Country Girl

• Actor-Inspired Element: In the original play, Frank Elgin is just a well-known actor, and the film turns him into a singer and star of musicals to accommodate Bing Crosby in the part.
• Beauty Inversion: Grace Kelly, one of the most beautiful women in the world, was dressed down with brown wool clothes, baggy cardigans and low-heeled shoes. Costume designer Edith Head commented on what a challenge it was.
• Costume Backlash: Inverted. Bing Crosby was so insecure about his hair and looking too old that he tried to wear a toupee during filming. George Seaton told him to go without it, as it was important he look his age.
• Enforced Method Acting: For his big drunk scene, Bing Crosby had his two sons keep him up all night so that he would look suitably tired and worn out.
• Playing Against Type: Both the two leads.
  • Bing Crosby had done musicals and light comedies, and now played a has-been actor struggling with alcoholism.
  • Grace Kelly had played glamorous fashionistas, and now was much more demure, in modest cardigans and even glasses!
• Romance on the Set: Grace Kelly had an affair with Bing Crosby during filming. He proposed to her at the end but she turned him down.
• Uncredited Role: A pre-West Side Story (1961) George Chakiris is uncredited in his role as a dancer.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Bing Crosby almost turned down the role because he feared he was too old for it. He also didn't think too highly of Grace Kelly and was reluctant to star alongside her, but her Oscar nomination for Mogambo helped him change his mind.
  • Jennifer Jones was in the running for the role of Georgie, but ultimately turned it down because of her pregnancy, and Grace Kelly got it. Paramount also initially refused to loan her out, but she threatened to quit acting if they didn't let her do it, and they conceded on the condition she first star in Green Fire (which would end up being her least favourite of her roles).