Trivia / Alexander the Great (1956)

• Cast the Runner-Up: Peter Wyngarde tested for the lead role. He was given the smaller role of Pausanias.
• Creator Backlash: Richard Burton was very dissatisfied with the final movie. He was later reluctant to accept the role of Marc Antony in Cleopatra, due to his low opinion of historical epics.
• Dawson Casting: Fredric March, age 59, as Philip II of Macedon, ages 26-46.
• Executive Meddling: Robert Rossen shot the film to run for over three hours, complete with an intermission, and was hugely disappointed when the producers cut the film down to 141 minutes.
• Romance on the Set: According to Penny Junor's biography, Richard Burton had sex with Claire Bloom in a stream in front of the cast and crew.
• Spared by the Cut: Attalus' death was cut from the film.
• What Could Have Been: Charlton Heston was sought for the title role, but turned it down, stating "Alexander is the easiest kind of picture to make badly".

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