Clark Gable was reportedly considered for the Travis role and Burt Lancaster for the Bowie role.

Edward Dmytryk hoped to direct Clark Gable in a film of the Michael Barrett novel, but Gable died before production could begin.

He was assigned to the role of Dr Wayne Talbot in this all star comedy-drama. However, Louis B. Mayer had doubts about his suitability for the part.

Clark Gable was initially cast as Preysing.

Clark Gable was originally cast as Ned Trent, but it was decided that he was too old to play a love interest for Judy Garland.

Originally intended as the male star of this big hit melodrama, Gable lost out because MGM wanted to punish him and Joan Crawford for their love affair.

Gable was considered for the part of Joe Massara, but passed over by Warner Bros. Gable then went to MGM and became a star.

When director John Huston first tried to launch a production of this unforgettable adventure project in the 1940s, he thought of the biggest star in films, Gable.

The film's original director Joshua Logan wanted Gable to play the father of the hero of the title, for whom Logan considered Warren Beatty.

Katharine Hepburn wanted Gable to star as C. K. Dexter Haven, but he was busy. Gable would never had agreed anyway since he had got director George Cukor fired from Gone With the Wind.

'King of the Movies' Gable didn't want to make this film with frequent costar Joan Crawford.

Joan Crawford requested Clark Gable to be her co-star.

Was seriously considered for MGM's 1932 movie version that spawned a series of hugely popular films.