"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie onSeptember 18, 1950 with Ethel Barrymore and Jeanne Crain reprising their film roles.
John Ford was the original director of the film, but after seeing dailies Darryl F. Zanuck felt Ford wasn't connecting with the material. Zanuck called Elia Kazan in New York and asked him to take over the film. Kazan felt he owed Zanuck for his film career, and agreed to do the movie without even looking at the script. He flew to Los Angeles and started filming the next Monday.
Linda Darnell showed interest in the lead role, but Darryl F. Zanuck noticed that her character resembled her character in Forever Amber too much. Fearing comparison, he rejected her for the lead.
Lena Horne initially campaigned to play the title role in this movie (she was light enough to photograph "white"), but in the end, the movie studio felt white American audiences would feel more comfortable with a white actress, especially since love scenes with a white actor were involved.
William Hansen's feature film debut.