Humphrey Bogart''s part in this movie was originally intended for
Paul Muni. Muni did not like the first draft of the screenplay which was authored solely by
John Huston and given to him by
Hal B. Wallis, so Wallis got the book's author
W.R. Burnett to assist
John Huston in a second rewrite. This rewrite was presented to
Paul Muni who still disliked it and turned the movie and the role down completely. In the meantime, On May 4th, 1940,
Humphrey Bogart sent a telegram to
Hal B. Wallis reiterating his continuing desire, which he had mentioned several months earlier, to play the part of Roy Earle. After Muni turned down the script the next person on the list for Warner Brothers was
George Raft. Bogart, knowing that Raft was trying to change his image and move away from gangster roles, found out about this and mentioned to Raft when he saw him next that the studio was trying to get him do another gangster movie where the gangster gets shot at the end. Raft marched into
Hal B. Wallis office and flatly refused to do the movie. Bogart finally ended up with the role he wanted all along by default.
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