 Originally entitled "Bogart Slept Here" with Robert De Niro (qv)  as leading man and Mike Nichols (I) (qv) as director. The story  was supposedly based on Dustin Hoffman (qv)s life as a struggling  actor (Hoffman wanted a part on the film but was turned down).  Artistic differences ultimately forced De Niro and Nichols out, two  weeks into the shoot. Other actors who were also candidates for the  role were Jack Nicholson (qv), James Caan (qv) and  Tony Lo Bianco (qv).