Eisenstein proposed a biography of munitions invester Sir Basil Zaharoff and a film version of Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw . He also made plans for a film of Sutter 's Gold by Jack London . Eisenstein proposed a biography of munitions tycoon Sir Basil Zaharoff and a film version of Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw , and more fully developed plans for a film of Sutter 's Gold by Jack London , but on all accounts failed to impress the studio 's producers .