 In the very first draft of the script the character of "Grandmother  Willow" was written as a male character who was the spirit of the  river, the character was named "Old Man River". The song "Just  Around the Riverbend" was written for this character to be sung.  Gregory Peck (qv) was offered the role and as much as it pained  him to do it, turned down the role because he felt the title  character needed a motherly figure to turn to for advice. Soon the  filmmakers agreed with him and the character was changed.