I have a book called “Hellraisers” by Robert Sellers. It chronicles the lives of Burton, Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed and focuses much on their drinking exploits. Burton plays a character in the Wild Geese who is a heavy drinker but is an effective commander of men in combat. The studio balked at having him AND Harris. The director was told no insurance company would be “made enough” to cover Harris. Harris had to defer half his salary as evidence he would behave during filming.
Reed only got the role in GLADIATOR when he solemnly swore to director Ridley Scott that he would show up sober and ready to work on the days
He was scheduled. But his time off was time off. He completed most of his work…. But he did not leave Malta alive unfortunately.