 In his autobiography, Elia Kazan says he wanted Marlon Brando to  play the protagonist of his film, Eddie Anderson. Brando initially  agreed to play the role, but backed out after the assassination of  Martin Luther King, Jr., saying he could not go on with the film in  light of such terrible events. While Kazan, a political person  himself, took Brandos exit graciously, he wondered whether Brandos  excuse was just a con and that he didnt really want to play the  role. Kazan says that Brandos interest in playing the role, during  their discussions, never got beyond his desire that the studio use a  particular Italian wigmaker for his hairpieces. On his part, Kazan  had urged Brando to lose weight so that the character would be "lean  and hungry."