Most of the street scenes were shot on location in New York without the public's knowledge. Photographer William H. Daniels and his uncredited assistant Roy Tripp filmed people on the streets using a hidden camera from the back of an old moving van. Occasionally, a fake newsstand with a hidden camera inside was also set up on the sidewalk to secretly film the actors. Director Jules Dassin hired a juggler to distract the crowds and also hired a man to occasionally climb up on a light post and give a patriotic speech, while waving an American flag to get the crowd's attention.
Although since the 1980s it has been the norm rather than the exception, this is one of the first films to list technical (non-acting) credits at the end of the movie.
Producer Mark Hellinger, who narrates the movie, died of a heart attack before the film was released. Following his death, Universal Pictures executives were ready to scrap the movie. They had no idea how to market it and feared it would be a box-office failure. However, Hellinger's family reminded the studio that his contract for the film included a "guarantee of release" clause from Universal. Having no choice, Universal released the film in theaters and was surprised when it became a hit and received two Oscars. In addition, Hellinger has been such a beloved New York journalist that a Broadway theater on West 51st Street was re-named for him.
Jean Dexter's apartment building is shown as "52 West 83rd Street." The facade is actually the Lathrop, at 46 West 83rd St., a short walk from Central Park. The Lathrop was built after the turn of the 20th century. Now condos, a 2 bedroom unit at the Lathrop now advertises for > $1,400,000.
Shot in 84 days during the summer of 1947.