This was one of the films that Spencer Tracy really believed in and actively supported not because he starred in it, but because he was a great admirer of Thomas A. Edison. This was unusual, as Tracy was known throughout most of his career to disparage his own gifts as well as the importance of motion pictures. Also, prior to this film, Tracy had been a very active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He even hosted the awards show on at least one occasion. However, when the nominations came out for the best films of 1940, Tracy was appalled that "Edison, the Man" was so overlooked in the nominations, being nominated for only Best Writing. He swore he would never attend another Academy Award ceremony again, and he never did. Not without irony is that, although he was nominated another six times over the next 28 years, Tracy never won another Oscar after that (after having won two in a row in the previous two years).
In the film, Edison and his wife communicate with each other by tapping out Morse code. In the movie this is presented as a charming endearment, but in fact Thomas A. Edison was so deaf that the only way he and his wife could converse was by tapping on each other's hands.
The World Premiere for this film in Thomas A. Edison's hometown of West Orange, New Jersey, serves as the backdrop for the mystery novel "Dead at the Box Office" by John Dandola. The novel explains in great detail how M.G.M. went about planning and carrying out the festivities.
Edison's hearing seems to vary from bad (as in the scene when he ignores a policeman shouting at him) to fairly normal (such as being able to hear conversations spoken in a normal voice). In reality, Edison was profoundly deaf in one ear due to a childhood accident. However, in other ways Spencer Tracy's portrayal of him as an old man in particular is surprisingly accurate, especially his vocal mannerisms.