When the director Julien Duvivier left occupied France for Portugal to reach the United States, he arranged for the film to be shipped to California. Once in Hollywood, where actress Michèle Morgan had also sought refuge, Duvivier shot extra scenes, e.g. when Morgan is seen queuing at the baker's, and added a prologue with Charles Boyer linking scenes between the different generations .
When released in France in October 1945, the scenes with Charles Boyer shot in Hollywood were not included. Instead, an introductory sequence with Boyer highlighted the film's eventful journey to reach the French screens due to German Minister of Propaganda Goebbels' fierce opposition.
The film was shot in 1940 but not released in France until November 1945 because of the war. It was released in the US & UK as "Heart of a Nation" in 1943 & 1944.
When Charles Spaak wrote the scenario, he had in mind Jean Gabin, Françoise Rosay and Pierre Blanchar in the lead roles. The roles went respectively to Raimu, Suzy Prim and Louis Jouvet.
Final film of Colette Borelli.