Tony writes in his 2008 autobiography that he asked his friend, director Blake Edwards to cast him in the role of writer Paul Varjak but Mel Ferrer didn't want his wife, Audrey Hepburn to make a movie with him, so Edwards declined his services.

Joan Crawford's first choice to play muscular beachcomber Drummond Hall was Tony Curtis, but it was thought that he photographed too young to play Crawford's lover.

Tony Curtis was offered the plum role but refused it.

Tony writes in his 2008 autobiography that he asked 20th Century-Fox to consider him for the male lead in the film but they declined and cast Albert Finny instead.

Curtis refused the role of Lancaster's brother, feeling that at this point in his career, he no longer needed to play seconds leads.