The DU Lounge

In The African Queen 1951, Charles Allnut (played by Humphrey Bogart) as written in the novel had a thick Cockney accent. Bogey was unwilling to even try to attempt it, so he became Canadian. John Huston directed it.

In The Bridge on the River Kwai 1957, American Geoffrey Horne was cast (as Lt. Joyce, another member of the commando team). His backstory was that he was from Montreal. Horne is still living, age 91. Another tidbit, Spiegel wanted an American actor with big star power to increase profits. In the Pierre Boule novel the character was British. He was changed to American, William Holden was cast as "Commander" Shears. Sir David Lean directed.

Lean also directed Lawrence of Arabia, produced by Spiegel. Boule wrote Planet of the Apes. John Huston also directed Treasure of the Sierra Madre, starring Bogart and Huston's father Walter.