 Producer Stanley Kramer (qv) first offered the leading role of  Will Kane to Gregory Peck (qv), who turned it down because he felt  it was too similar to _Gunfighter, The (1950)_ (qv). Other actors  who turned down the role of Will Kane included  Charlton Heston (qv), Marlon Brando (qv) and  Montgomery Clift (qv).