 Carl Foreman (qv) wrote the screenplay with Humphrey Bogart (qv)  in mind for the role of Shears, but Columbia Studios head  Harry Cohn (I) (qv) refused to allow Bogart out of another  project. Cary Grant (qv) then was briefly considered to star as  Colonel Nicholson, but his flop in a serious role in  _Crisis (1950)_ (qv) concerned the producer, Sam Spiegel (I) (qv).  The role was offered to Laurence Olivier (qv) who turned it down.  Alec Guinness (qv) was the next choice.