During World War II, Protestant medical missionary Rachel comes to the village of Dibela in the Belgian Congo. Widowed military administrator Colonel Derode is initially skeptical about her work, but eventually is romantically attracted to Rachel. One of her patients is Paul Wilton, an American doctor with the Royal Air Force (RAF). She makes love with Paul the night before he is to leave, and becomes pregnant.[2]
The film is loosely based on the 1956 novel by Charles Mercer, Rachel Cade, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Film rights were bought prior to publication by William Dozier who was head of production at RKO. In September 1956 he announced that Stanley Rubin would produce and the film would be made in Africa with John Wayne. It would be part of a five-picture slate from Rubin worth $12 million starting with The Girl Most Likely.[3]Katharine Hepburn was announced as a possible star.[4] Then Dozier offered the lead to Deborah Kerr.[5]Stirling Silliphant signed to write the script.[6] In October Dozier said the film would be one of fifteen RKO would make the following year, others including Stage Struck, Bangkok, Ten Days in August, Three Empty Rooms, Affair in Portifino, Sex and Miss McAdoo, Pakistan, Galveston, On My Honor, The Naked and the Dead, Cash MCad, Far Alert, Journey to the Center of the Earth and Curtain Going Up.[7]
RKO wound up as a company – most of the fifteen films listed were not made. Film rights went to Warner Bros who in November 1958 announced they would make the film.[8] In March 1959 Edward Anhalt was assigned to write the script and Henry Blanke was to produce.[9] Blanke had also produced The Nun's Story (1959), starring Audrey Hepburn. The Sins of Rachel Cade had some familiarities to that story particularly with the lead character: a religious female working to help during wartime. Also, Peter Finch plays an atheistic authority figure in both films.
In June Warners announced that Carroll Baker would star and Gordon Douglas would direct.[10] Peter Finch was announced as the male star. However Baker refused to make the movie and Warners gave the lead to Angie Dickinson, who had just made Rio Bravo and The Bramble Bush for the studio.[11]
In August Peter Finch arrived in Hollywood for filming, which began August 27. He called his role "a good, rather cynical part with some excellent dialogue."[12] Rafer Johnson signed in September.[13] Roger Moore's casting was announced in October – he was then making The Alaskans for Warner Bros.[14]
^Schallert, Edwin (Sep 13, 1956). "'Bravura' Programmed for Melchior in Europe; Bishop Story Optioned". Los Angeles Times. p. A11.
^Schallert, Edwin (Sep 7, 1956). "New Cinderella 'Happy Warror' Star; Paget Brother Joins His Sister". Los Angeles Times. p. C9.
^"Louella Parsons: The Congo Beckons Deborah Kerr". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. Sep 14, 1956. p. 32.
^THOMAS M. PRYOR (Sep 22, 1956). "STUDIO REVAMPS '29 STREET SCENE: Universal Begins $50,000 Renovation Work on Its Standing Oriental Set". New York Times. p. 14.
^"15 Major Pictures Billed for Production by RKO". Los Angeles Times. Oct 9, 1956. p. B30.
^"FILMLAND EVENTS: Shelley Winters and Meeker Will Costar". Los Angeles Times. Nov 19, 1958. p. B11.
^"ALAN LADD FILM NAMES DIRECTOR: Robert Webb Is Signed for 'Guns of Timberland' -- Columbia Adds Writers". The New York Times. Mar 24, 1959. p. 45.
^Hopper, Hedda (4 June 1959). "Carroll Baker to Star in 'Rachel Cade'". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. c14.
^Hopper, Hedda (1 July 1959). "Looking at Hollywood: Angie Dickinson Gets 'Rachel Cade' Role". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. d3.
^"THE LOCAL FILM SCENE By HOWARD THOMPSON". New York Times. Aug 2, 1959. p. X5.
^"Kaufman Seeking Patricia Owens". Los Angeles Times. Sep 5, 1959. p. A6.
^"Margo Moore Gets 'Wake Me' Lead". Los Angeles Times. Oct 8, 1959. p. B10.
