The film's negative was destroyed by the fascist government of Benito Mussolini during the war years. Director Luchino Visconti managed to save a print.
In Italy, some priests performed exorcisms on theaters after they screened this.
The original casting for Giovanna was the tempestuous Anna Magnani, but when she showed up on the set several months pregnant, Visconti replaced her with Clara Calamai.