 Greta Garbo (qv) initially requested that Laurence Olivier (qv)  play the lead, Don Antonio, since she was impressed by his  performance in _Westward Passage (1932)_ (qv). In July 1933, the  press announced that Olivier would take the part. However, when they  did the rehearsals in August, Garbo and Olivier had no chemistry,  and he was released, although MGM Studios honored his negotiated  salary of $1,500 a week for four weeks minimum. Garbo requested that  John Gilbert (I) (qv) be cast in the role instead.