According to a 7 Dec 1964 LAT article, Evelyn Waugh was inspired to write The Loved One (1948) after becoming disillusioned with Hollywood amid failed negotiations over the rights to Brideshead Revisited. Despite his reluctance to return to the film industry, Waugh eventually lost control of his works when they were transferred to his estate, and Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel acquired rights to The Loved One in the mid-1950s. Alec Guinness was attached to star, and DV items in Apr 1957 confirmed the involvement of Hollywood agent-turned-producer Ingo Preminger, co-producer Manuel Barbachano, and writer Phillip Roll. Several years passed without development, however, and the option was dropped until 1961, when Filmways, Inc. producer John Calley and cameraman Haskell Wexler heard about the property while on location in Italy and offered to purchase it from Buñuel. A 14 Feb 1962 DV article reported news of Filmways’ upcoming announcement through founder and producer Martin Ransohoff.
       Although a 28 Feb 1962 LAT article suggested that Buñuel and Roll were still involved with the screenwriting process, one month later, the 27 Mar 1962 DV announced that Elaine May had joined the project for her first motion picture writing assignment. A 24 Apr 1962 DV news brief indicated that filmmakers were in discussions with Laurence Olivier to direct, and Ransohoff told the 2 Aug 1962 LAT that he hoped to hire Richard Burton for the leading role. The 7 Dec 1964 LAT article claimed that the property attracted both Burton and wife Elizabeth Taylor, much to the displeasure of director Tony Richardson. Believing they were inappropriate for the film, Richardson temporarily dropped out until it was decided that Filmways would be unable to accommodate the couple’s request to shoot in Spain for tax purposes.
       Now in full artistic control, Richardson proceeded with casting. A 14 Oct 1963 DV news brief indicated that both Shirley MacLaine and Zero Mostel were eager to work with the director following the success of Tom Jones (1963), while an LAT article published eleven days later indicated that Richardson would likely team with Tom Jones star Albert Finney. Earlier items in the 9 Aug 1963 and 5 Sep 1963 DV stated that Carroll Baker and Peter Sellers were in consideration to star before Robert Morse landed the leading role later that year.
       Meanwhile, DV and Var reported that May’s script went through revisions by Arthur Ross, Charles Eastman, Christopher Isherwood, and Terry Southern. An article in the 19 Jul 1964 NYT alleged that there were “at least seven” versions to date, all intended to “update and expand” the satire of Waugh’s novel to comment on other elements of Southern California lifestyles beyond the Hollywood industry. This also allowed several opportunities for cameo roles, with DV items throughout the late summer and fall of 1964 naming Viven Leigh, Julie Harris, Laurence Olivier, Kim Stanley, Claire Bloom, Peter Finch, Diane Cilento, Alain Delon, Jeanne Moreau, Jerry Lewis, Mickey Rooney, Phil Silvers, and Simone Signoret among those who were in talks to participate. The 3 Sep 1964 and 27 Nov 1964 DV referred to appearances by Gail Gilmore and Jayne Mansfield, while the 29 Jul 1964 DV stated that Ransohoff also made his onscreen debut as a studio art director in a scene opposite John Gielgud. Casting announcements included Keenan Wynn, Nina Shipman, Joy Harmon, Todd Mason, Barbara Latell, and Renee Paul in the cast, but their involvement could not be confirmed.
       Principal photography began 28 Jul 1964, as stated in a DV production chart published on 14 Aug 1964. According to a 23 Jul 1964 DV news story, scenes of the fictional “Metropolitan Studios” were shot at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios in Culver City, CA. A 25 Sep 1964 DV story indicated that area locations included the Beverly Hills Health Club, Greystone mansion, Pet Haven Pet Cemetery in Gardena, a private home on West 20th Street in Los Angeles, the Fish Shanty restaurant, Gaslight Club, and the Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. studio commissary. The 24 Nov 1964 DV stated that James Coburn’s scenes were shot at the Pan American and Trans World Airlines satellite offices at Los Angeles International Airport. Problems arose at the Greystone mansion, as a 24 Sep 1964 LAT news story reported vandalism on the property, and the 23 Oct 1964 DV indicated that the city of Beverly Hills rejected the unit’s plans to film a helicopter landing on the premises. By 28 Oct 1964, Var announced that the $1.9 million budget had inflated to nearly $3 million, and the production was currently two months over schedule. The 9 Dec 1964 Var reported an anticipated wrap date of 12 Dec 1964, with a final negative cost around $4 million.
       During principal photography, the 3 Sep 1964 DV announced that Agnes Moorehead was forced to relinquish a role when she was recalled to the set of Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964, see entry) after Joan Crawford was replaced by Olivia de Havilland. Two months later, the 19 Nov 1964 DV stated that Kim Stanley also dropped out of the picture due to an injury. Although she was immediately replaced by Barbara Nichols, the 13 Oct 1965 Var reported that Nichols’s scenes had been cut following multiple test screenings.
       Despite built-in popularity of Richardson’s Tom Jones, a 1 Sep 1965 DV news item indicated that MGM was “worried” about how to develop a marketing strategy for The Loved One. As reported by the 24 Aug 1965 DV, Venice Film Festival director Luigi Chiarini had pursued The Loved One as an entry for that year’s festival taking place 24 Aug—6 Sep 1965, but it was allegedly not finished in time to participate. The picture opened publicly on 11 Oct 1965 at New York City’s Cinema I, and 10 Nov 1965 at the Fine Arts Theatre in Los Angeles. A 4 Jan 1967 Var list of “Big Rental Pictures of 1966” calculated total domestic rentals at $1.9 million, with $2 million of anticipated revenue.
       The Loved One marked the feature film debut of actor-composer Paul Williams (1940--), who was billed as Paul H. Williams until the early 1970s.