A December 1954 item in Hollywood Reporter's "Rambling Reporter" column indicated that the studio wanted Marilyn Monroe to appear in the film with Jane Russell, her co-star in the studio's highly successful 1953 production _Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953_).
The part of Curly was adapted by Nunnally Johnson for Marilyn Monroe, who was placed on suspension by Twentieth Century-Fox for refusing the assignment. During the next year, Miss Monroe would live in Manhattan, studying with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. When Marilyn and Fox came to terms, she returned to Hollywood to star as fame-obsessed Cherie in Bus Stop.
This was the final feature of Betty Grable's 25-year film career. Her first screen appearance in Let's Go Places had been released less than a month after Betty had turned 13 years old.