 Joseph Losey (qv) originally offered the part of Leon Trotsky to  Dirk Bogarde (qv), with whom he had made five other films. Losey  admitted that the script was terrible, but told Bogarde that it  would be revised. Bogarde turned the role down, embittering Losey,  who felt that Bogarde didnt trust him. Richard Burton (I) (qv),  who had worked with Losey on _Boom! (1968)_ (qv) did trust Losey  enough to take the part, even though he was shown the same script.