 David Lean (I) (qv)s first choice for the title role was Peter  OToole (I) (qv) who declined, citing the grueling experience of  having made _Lawrence of Arabia (1962)_ (qv) with Lean. This created  a rift between the two that was never fully healed.  Max von Sydow (I) (qv) was also considered, before Lean offered  the role to Omar Sharif (qv).