I love the comment about Laughton saying "You think I'm doing it all wrong", and the actress believing he was being insecure. I suspect this is a very polite, English way of saying "Shut up woman, I'm directing this, not you!"
"The actress"...? Her name is Lillian Gish, and she was one of the legendary icons of the silent era. Laughton would hardly have felt threatened by her; more than likely, he sincerely wanted to hear her suggestions. He had never directed a film before, wasn't sure he was up to the task, and as producer Paul Gregory mentions later on, the whole reason why Laughton never directed again was because the film's box office failure crippled his confidence.
This is the brilliant Howard Schuman presenting BSB’s ‘Moving Pictures Show’. A great team shot the links in the Brixton Academy & the then derelict Rainbow. The Director was Peter Jameson & the Lighting Cameraman was Bob Pendar-Hughes.
