 Peter OToole (I) (qv) was originally hesitant about doing the  film. However, in the script, when there is a close up of Swanns  tombstone, the date of Swanns death was, in fact, the date of  OTooles birthday. OToole phoned Richard Benjamin to find out if  they did that with all of the actors they had offered the part to.  The director replied that the script had not been given to anybody  else, at which OToole agreed to do the film.