Laughton was cast as Col. Nicholson, but had to drop up due to health reasons. Alec Guinness replaced him and won an Academy Award

Laughton spent a great deal of time in the 1930s trying to mount a film of the play about the swordsman with the huge nose for producer Alexander Korda, but Korda finally abandoned the project as being too uncommercial. The film was finally made in 1950 with José Ferrer.

The British thespian was reluctant to accept the part, and only spent three or four days on the film. Both he and producer David O'Selznick were unhappy with his interpretation of the role, and he withdrew his services.

Laughton had difficulty finding the title character and clashed with director Josef von Sternberg. After co-star Merle Oberon was injured in a car crash, the film was abandoned.