Originally Pidgeon was cast as Soames and Flynn as young Jolyon, but the actors felt they wanted to go against type and agreed to switch roles.
When Greer Garson flung her wardrobe open to change into a dress to accompany Soames to the art gallery, Errol Flynn jumped out of the wardrobe which caused her to scream and faint on set.
C. Aubrey Smith was originally scheduled to play the part of Jolyon Forsyte, but the illness preceding his death prevented it.
The film was based on the first of Galsworthy's Forsyte novels, "The Man of Property."
Because of the big-name cast, expensive sets and period costuming, the film was a financial failure, losing $564,000.