Marilyn Monroe’s appearance in Western genre films required designer Travilla to create costumes ranging from saloon-style gowns to casual denim looks. Monroe wanted her character, Kay—a kind-hearted saloon singer torn between an ex-convict (Robert Mitchum) and her troubled fiancé (Rory Calhoun)—to have a natural feel. Her acting coach, Natasha Lytess, and director Otto Preminger clashed over whether Monroe should use her typical breathy voice, with the studio backing Monroe’s decision to forgo it.
