- Claude Rains, Notorious, 1945. Some Enchanted Movie…! Surprisingly, Alfred Hitchcock, thought of New York’s Metropolitan Opera Italian star Ezio Pinza – a future Broadway ikon in South Pacific – to play the Nazi masterspy bejng investigated by US agent Cary Grant and their – yes, their – lover, a nymphoish Ingrid Bergman. George Sanders and Clifton Webb were also in the frame.
- Howard Keel, Kismet, 1955. For the much-filmed 1911 Edward Knoblock play – Aladdin meets MGMusicals! – Pinza was beaten by Keel as wandering poet and self-styled King of the Beggars, vowing that his daughter will become Queen of Bagdad. Two years earlier, Keel had been Alfred Drake’s understudy as the poet on Broadway.
- Rossano Brazzi, South Pacific, 1957. Stage-screen director Joshua Logan seriously wanted the Broadway Tony-winning star to repeat his role of Emile De Becque – but he died at age 64. Whereas Logan dropped Broadway’s original Nellie Forbush because Mary Martin was too old. At a mere 45. Oh, Hollywood! Josh then checked Charles Boyer Vittoria De Sica, Howard Keel and Fernando Lamas for Emile de Becque.
Birth year: 1892Death year: 1957Other name: Casting Calls: 3