Director Lincoln was even more excited than she was: "This script is my life. If anyone dares make me change it, I'll fight them to the end. Not even The Pop King could sway me."
Director Lincoln and the producer weren't stupid. Where there's a policy from above, there's a workaround below. If the female lead can't act, they wouldn't dare cut her scenes. They'd just shoot everything as is. With a weak lead, the rest of the cast would only look even better in comparison.
And of course, there was another factor: Lillian Young's team lacked foresight. Obsessed with screen time and endearing characters, they'd put all their chips on the leading lady, without realizing that in crime dramas, besides the male roles, it's the villains that steal the show.
The third female role was morally ambiguous, toeing the line between good and evil, and her scenes were actually far more important than the lead's.
