Good grief, according to that news blurb, Paramount was originally planning on having Alan Ladd and Betty Hutton co-star in “California.” That sounds like it would have been a horrifically discordant teaming... the low-key Ladd and the wacky, hyperkinectic Hutton, in what is a supposed to be a serious western drama. Eventually the film was of course made, starring Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwyck.
Just saw Dial M for Murder again last weekend. Ray Milland was terrific in it (well, terrifically bad).