Kirk Douglas earned this, his debut role, with the help of his old drama school friend Lauren Bacall who knew that producer Hal B. Wallis was looking for fresh talent, and she suggested Douglas to him. She encouraged Wallis to watch a play featuring Douglas. When he did, Wallis was so impressed by his performance that he cast Douglas in this film.
Van Heflin's first movie after serving three years in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II with the Ninth Air Force in Europe and the First Motion Picture Unit. He was on loan from MGM for this movie.
Future movie Writer, Producer, and Director Blake Edwards had an uncredited bit part as a sailor who hitches a ride with Sam Masterson (Van Heflin).
Director Lewis Milestone is quoted in an article in the Los Angeles Sun Mirror on December 8, 1946 as having said that he would never make another movie with Producer Hal B. Wallis because Wallis wanted to re-shoot scenes in this movie for more close-ups of Lizabeth Scott. Milestone reportedly told Wallis to shoot them himself, so he did.