'Shelly Winters' hated her role as "Rose-Ann" and was actually overwhelmed and speechless the night she won an Oscar for Best Supporting actress.
Patty Duke was offered the lead part of Selina D'Arcy. Her managers, John and Ethel Ross, did not want her to take the part because they felt that playing a blind person so close to the time she portrayed Helen Keller would stereotype her for future roles.
Elizabeth Hartman wore a pair of opaque contact lenses that not only made her appear blind, but genuinely deprived her of her sight.
According to director, Guy Green, many girls auditioned for the role of Selina. However, as soon as 'Elizabeth Hartman' walked into his office, he knew she was the one.
According to the DVD audio commentary, it was the decision of director Guy Green that the movie be filmed in black-and-white, although color was available.
Hayley Mills was considered for lead role but was bypassed for unknown Elizabeth Hartman to cut costs.
Scenes of Poitier and Hartman kissing were excised from the film when it was shown in movie theaters in the southern states of the USA. These scenes are intact in the DVD version.
This role of "Ole Pa" was the final film for Wallace Ford, ending a 35 year career that included over 100 feature films. He died the following year.