 James Cagney (qv) was originally offered the role of Alfred  Doolittle. When he pulled out at the last minute, it went to the man  who played it on Broadway, Stanley Holloway (qv).  Cary Grant (qv), Noel Coward (qv), Michael Redgrave (qv) and  George Sanders (I) (qv) were all considered for the role of  Higgins before Rex Harrison (I) (qv) was finally chosen to reprise  his Broadway role.