Although based on a fictional short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, the author came up with the idea from actual events occurring in 19th century England and Scotland, particularly those of grave robbers Burke and Hare.
The 'exterior' scenes were filmed on sets constructed for RKO's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The stock footage that opens the film does not actually depict Edinburgh, Scotland.
This film featured the 8th and last on-screen teaming of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Filming took place October 25-November 17 1944, delaying the completion of Karloff's "Isle of the Dead".