Myrna Loy arrived on set to find Montgomery Clift very nervous about meeting and working with her as he had been a big fan of hers for years. Loy was very flattered by this and the two formed a close friendship.
Montgomery Clift was a great fan of Nathanael West's novella and jumped at the chance of appearing in the film version.
This updated version is generally held to be a travesty of Nathanael West's famously savage and disturbing novella. Producer Dore Schary later said he regretted giving the story a happy ending.
The play, "Miss Lonelyhearts" opened on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St., on October 3, 1957 and ran for only 12 performances.