“Gloria Grahame’s character is called Laurel (Gray), and this is how Laurel is described in the novel: “Her eyes were slant, her lashes curved long and golden dark. She had red-gold hair, flaming hair, flung back from her amber face, falling to her shoulders. Her mouth was too heavy with lipstick, a copper-red mouth, a sultry mouth painted to call attention to its premise.”Nicholas Ray must have read that and instantly known that the only woman who could play Laurel, and her premise, was his wife.”⠀