[5] Dyer "opened up" the script to show the couple's neighbourhood, expanded the action to cover a period of ten days, and added characters.

[citation needed] While that film is set in Las Vegas, Taylor demanded that director George Stevens shoot in France so she could be close to her husband.

[7] Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote: "Although Burton and Harrison are interesting actors whose styles command attention even when the material does not, 'Staircase' is essentially a stunt movie ...

"[8] Variety wrote that "Harrison and Burton have dared risky roles and have triumphed," but noted that the film "comes uncomfortably close to being depressing.

"[9] Roger Ebert gave the film 1 star out 4, calling it "an unpleasant exercise in bad taste...[Donen] gives us no warmth, humor or even the dregs of understanding.

We see everything coming a few beats or lines or minutes before the filmmakers and the stars, deliberately planting the clues and laying the groundwork and working up the old momentum, finally throw their best punches.

"[17] The play inspired Jean Poiret and Michel Serrault to write, and star in, La Cage aux Folles,[18] which was itself later adapted by Mike Nichols as The Birdcage (1996).