The film was originally planned to be shot on-location in Spain. However, due to the unflattering portrayal of Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War, the Franco regime declined permission.
Dirk Bogarde nicknamed Ava Gardner "Snowdrop" because he said anything less suitable was difficult to imagine.
Whilst it is true that M-G-M in the UK did not give the film a general release on the major circuits, they did make it freely available as an optional booking. And with two major stars it was inevitable that a large number of cinemas would place orders for the film. Passed by the British Board of Film Censors with an "A" certificate on 17 August 1960, the London preview was at M-G-M's Own Theatre on 29 March 1961 (two showings at 10:30 and 2:30 for press and trade only). The public had to wait some while for it to reach cinemas. After a week's try-out at Coventry's Alexandra from 21 January 1962, it then opened in London at Chelsea's Essoldo from 28 January 1962, then West Ealing's Lido from 4 February 1962, moving to the Queens (ABC) Bayswater and Regal (ABC) Hammersmith two weeks later. The British Newspaper Archive have large number of advertisements announcing the film throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. M-G-M selected La nostra vita comincia di notte (1960) as the supporting feature everywhere.