Because Luchino Visconti was severely affected by a stroke, the insurance companies refused the risk of insuring the production. The filming could begin only after Burt Lancaster promised to replace the director behind the camera if necessary.
Shot entirely in English.
Before shooting even started, the photos of the audition of the fifteen-year-old Claudia Marsani without a blouse were put into circulation, and the director was asked about it. Luchino Visconti replied: "Well, I made the girl take off her blouse because she has to do a nude scene in the film, and I wanted to make sure she was beautiful too undressed."
The film was censored in Spain for the nude and political content and because Francisco Franco's daughter and son-in-law are mentioned.