At the time of filming it attracted more attention for its location dramas than for what happened on screen. At the time, Elizabeth Taylor was living with Richard Burton, whose agent was her previous husband, Michael Wilding. Ava Gardner's old friend Peter Viertel was around with being married to co star Deborah Kerr. It was for this reason that John Huston, recognizing that there might be some good fights, gave all the cast gold plated guns.
The film was shot in continuity.
According to one of the biographies of Tennessee Williams, "The Kindness of Strangers," by Donald Spoto, the character of Maxine, who is portrayed in this film by Ava Gardner, was purportedly based upon Williams' landlady of the apartment he rented in Santa Monica while he was working at MGM Studios in the 1940s. Her mannerisms, attitudes and even her distinctive one-syllable laugh were detailed by Williams and are expertly performed by Gardner.
Nearly half of the film's $3 million budget went to pay the three major stars' salaries: Richard Burton ($750,000), Ava Gardner ($400,000) and Deborah Kerr ($250,000).
Very hairy chested Richard Burton was forced to submit to a complete body wax before appearing in the swimming sequence with Sue Lyon.