The writer, Rod Serling, did not care for Sir Peter Ustinov in the role of Abel Shaddick. In a talk he gave at UCLA 5-17-1971, Mr. Serling stated he would have preferred a Jewish actor, such as Sam Levine or Zero Mostel.
Talk is available on Youtube.
Talk is available on Youtube.
In his autobiography, Peter Ustinov said that this play was meritorious, but rather too sentimental.