Spencer Tracy starred in the original version, Vingt mille ans sous les verrous (1932). He and Pat O'Brien (Warden Long) were lifelong friends, growing up together in Milwaukee, going to the Marquette Academy, and even joining the Navy together when they came of age. They also attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in New York City where they roomed together while attending classes.
Takes place from 1937 to 1938.
Mike Kagel refers to the black prisoner on death row by the nickname "Eight Ball," who in return refers to Kagel as "Big Boy," the real nickname of the actor playing the Kagel role, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams.
In later describing his preparation for the climactic execution scene, John Garfield explained how he used his Method training to make the experience seem real: "Naturally I hadn't ever been to the chair before, so it required a little imagination to go back into my past and find the emotion I needed....When I got onstage for the first performance of Awake and Sing (his first major stage role with the Group Theatre), it felt like the electric chair...and that feeling is what I was remembering when the movie cameras were grinding."