In Harlan Ellison's post-apocalyptic novella on which Apocalypse 2024 (1975) is based, the main character goes to one of the few surviving movie theaters and watches Marché de brutes (1948). He lives in a world dominated by gangs and describes the movie: "Gangsters, mobs, a lot of punching and fighting. Real good."
Jane Randolph was wanted for the role of Pat Cameron. However, she turned it down, as she was upset at being uncredited in Anthony Mann's previous picture, La brigade du suicide (1947). Claire Trevor eventually was cast.
According to Eddie Muller during his introduction of the film on TCM's "Noir Alley", this is one of only a few noir films narrated by a woman - in this case Claire Trevor, who he called the "Grand Dame" of film noir.
The score features a very unusual example of the first ever electronic instrument, the Theremin, predecessor to the synthesizer, being used on a film noir soundtrack. The instrument would eventually go on to be popularly associated with 50's sci-fi and horror movies, where it was frequently used, because of it's eerie, haunting, "other-worldly" sound. But the distinctive instrument's use on drama, crime movie or film noir titles was extremely rare, especially as early as 1948.
The vehicle stolen from the gas station is a 1948 Willys Jeep station wagon. It was all steel, but painted to look like a "woodie".