 Robert Alda had originated the role of Sky Masterson on Broadway in 1950.For the movie, Gene Kelly at first seemed a serious candidate for the part, but it went to Marlon Brando, partly because MGM would not loan Kelly for the production, but mainly because Goldwyn wanted to cast Brando, the world's biggest box office draw by a wide margin at that time.The film ended up being distributed by MGM, Kelly's home studio.