“Now listen to me you benighted muckers. We’re going to teach you soldiering. The world’s noblest profession. When we’re done with you, you’ll be able to slaughter your enemies like civilized men.”
Director John Huston tried to make the film several times. It was originally conceived as a vehicle for Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart in the fifties, and later for Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. When it was considered for Robert Redford and Paul Newman, Newman suggested Sean Connery and Michael Caine. Huston failed to cast the role of Roxanne before shooting began. Over dinner, the cast and crew suggested Shakira Caine, Michael’s wife. Karroom Ben Bouih, who played the high priest Kafu-Selim, was 103 years old when he made his only film appearance. After seeing the footage he declared that now he would live forever. Both Connery and Caine sued Allied Artists to get a small percentage of the profit – reportedly $250,000 each.
