 When Irving Thalberg (qv), MGMs production chief, negotiated with  Warner Bros. to cast Paul Muni (I) (qv), Muni told him, "Im about  as Chinese as Herbert Hoover (I) (qv)." Thalberg had to lend  Clark Gable (qv) and Leslie Howard (I) (qv) to Warners to secure  Munis services.