 Richard Harris (I) (qv) agreed to star in Sam Peckinpah (qv)s  _Major Dundee (1965)_ (qv) in December 1963 whilst still in the  middle of making this film. Harris walked off Antonionis film as it  went further behind schedule to ensure that he did not miss Major  Dundees start date of 5 February 1964. Harris said that Il Deserto  Rosso had to be completed without him and a double was used for his  character in some of the long shots.