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This film was to have been Robert Montgomery's first. He was hired to play opposite Hungarian silent star Vilma Banky in this silent film with talking sequences which was produced by the Samuel Goldwyn Company. Production had begun on the film when director Alfred Santell decided Montgomery couldn't act and he was subsequently fired. He was replaced by James Hall and RM moved on to MGM where he made his first film, So This is College.
Based on the novel and subsequent paly by Hall Caine, The Christian had been filmed in 1914 with Earle Williams in the role of 'John Storm' and again in 1923 with Richard Dix starring. This film would have come after Strangers May Kiss, but it was never made.
This film was proposed for 1931. Based on an Albert Richard Wetjen story, Jack Conway was set to direct and Leila Hyams was to be Bob's co-star. They had already starred together in The Big House and Sins of the Children the previous year. This project was eventually abandoned.
Montgomery was originally proposed to play 'Baron Felix von Geigern', the jewel thief who tries to rob the ballerina 'Grusinskaya' (Greta Garbo) then falls in love with her. The role went to John Barrymore instead and Montgomery went to -But the Flesh is Weak. This would have been a much stronger film than Flesh and would have done more for his career, however the 1931 film he made with Garbo, Inspiration, proved that he and the Swedish star had little chemistry.
There are lots of familiar faces in this mystery, Anita Page, Madge Evans, Joan Marsh and Cliff Edwards (each of which had been in at least one film with Montgomery already) are all in this one. The lead role eventually went to William Haines and Montgomery went on to Letty Lynton instead.
This film would have returned Montgomery to the collegiate football field he had visited in his first film, So This is College. Sam Wood (who also did College) was the director and Madge Evans, one of Montgomery's more frequent leading ladies was the co-star. The role eventually went to Ramon Novarro. It is just as well RM missed this one, it turned out to be a rather dull story and did little for Novarro's career.
This film would have come after Letty Lynton in Montgomery's schedule for 1932. It was to have been a remake of the 1921 classic which had starred Richard Barthelmess. One remake had already been made in 1930 with Richard Cromwell in the title role. Edmund Goulding, who had done the orginal adaptation of the Joseph Hergesheimer novel, was touted as a possible director for the proposed film but the idea was eventually abandoned. This would have been an interesting role for RM.
Montgomery had originally been proposed as the star of this material. I have heard that he turned it down because he didn't want to do another "bus picture" after Fugitive Lovers, which he had just made, but I can't confirm this. As we all know, the film garnered many Oscars including that of Best Actor for Clark Gable. Gable was perfect in the role, but it would have been a good one for Montgomery too.
Originally Montgomery was cast in the role of 'Roger Byam' to Clark Gable's 'Fletcher Christian' and with Wallace Beery as 'Captain Bligh'. When Beery was deemed too American, he was replaced by Charles Laughton. I have seen a variety of reasons for Montgomery's withdrawal including illness and the need for a vacation...whatever the reason, the role went to Franchot Tone instead. This film won an Oscar as Best Picture and a nomiation for Franchot Tone as Best Actor. This would have been an excellent role for Montgomery and it would have been interesting to see what he would have brought to the film. RM had previously worked with Gable in Forsaking All Others.
Here are two rare costume test photos of Montgomery as 'Roger Byam': Pic 1 Pic2
Montgomery was originally cast to play opposite Janet Gaynor in this romantic drama, but was replaced by Robert Taylor. RM and Gaynor would get a chance to star together two years later in Three Loves Has Nancy.
Montgomery was to have been loaned out to Warner Brothers to make this film based on Rupert Hughes' drama of married life, Section 231. Olivia De Havilland was set to co-star. Montgomery's illness was the reason reported for the project suddenly being dropped just as it was about to go into production in October of 1936. RM never made a film with De Havilland...it would have been interesting to see what kind of a screen pair they would have made.