Burgess Meredith, in his film debut, recreates the role he played in the original Broadway production.
The film completely changes the ending of the play. In the play, Mio and Miriamne are shot to death by Trock's hit men. In the film, Mio deliberately gets himself arrested, thereby preventing himself and Miriamne from being shot, and Trock is mistakenly shot and killed by one of his own hit men.