 The role of Sherif Ali was originally intended for  Horst Buchholz (qv) but he was forced to turn it down owing to his  commitment to Billy Wilder (qv)s movie  _One, Two, Three (1961)_ (qv). Second choice Alain Delon (qv)  tested successfully but suffered problems with the brown contact  lenses required for the role. Maurice Ronet (qv) was then cast but  was replaced after difficulties with his French accent and his Arab  dress (Lean complained "He looked like me walking around in drag").