 The lead role was originally intended for Stewart Granger (I) (qv)  but MGM decided to employ Clark Gable (qv) instead. Production  chief Dore Schary (qv) suggested to Granger that the film would  entail a long filming separation from his wife  Jean Simmons (I) (qv) though Granger wanted to make the film  regardless and later spoke disparagingly about Gable in his memoirs.