 John Hurt (qv) and Tom Courtenay (qv) were among the actors  approached by Richard Attenborough (qv) about playing the lead  role. Ben Kingsley (qv) was recommended for the role by  Harold Pinter (qv), who had seen him in a play; Pinter made the  suggestion to Sam Spiegel (I) (qv), an associate of  Attenboroughs.