10 Movie Actors Who Refused To Talk To Directors On Set

Henry Fonda's lengthy partnership with legendary filmmaker John Ford came to an unceremonious end with 1955's Oscar-winning dramedy Mister Roberts.

Fonda, who won a Best Actor Tony Award for playing the title role on stage in 1948, took major issue with concessions Ford had accepted to get the film made, namely offering a more flattering portrayal of the U.S. Navy in order to secure their co-operation on the project.

Fonda felt this excessively softened the film's themes and characters, resulting in a confrontation where Ford allegedly punched Fonda.

Ford apologised to his star, but the damage had been done, with Fonda reportedly refusing to speak to Ford for the rest of the shoot.

Heartbreakingly Fonda never worked with Ford again, though did speak fondly of the filmmaker in Peter Bogdanovich's 1971 documentary Directed by John Ford, released shortly before Ford's death.

But breaking off a professional relationship once it devolves into fisticuffs is totally understandable, as much of a shame as it was.