 This was legendary film composer Elmer Bernstein (qv)s first  major project. Bernstein had just had some success with his jazz  score for _Man with the Golden Arm, The (1955)_ (qv). However, he  was not Cecil B. DeMille (qv)s first choice to score the film.  DeMille had a long relationship with Paramount contract composer  Victor Young (I) (qv), who had been working with DeMille since  _North West Mounted Police (1940)_ (qv). Unfortunately, Young had  become very ill and could not accept the assignment.