The film was based on a play "The Beggars Are Coming to Town" by Theodore Reeves which opened on Broadway on October 27, 1945 starring Paul Kelly as Frankie Madison and Luther Adler as Dink Turner, former bootleggers. This film was Byron Haskin's first directorial assignment since 1928, having worked as a cameraman in the interim. Haskin felt that the reason none of the cast objected was as newcomers they didn't know enough to object.
In an early scene, Frankie (Burt Lancaster) says to Dave (Wendell Corey) that he is two years older than him but looks ten years older. In reality, Lancaster was the older of the two, albeit by only approximately six months.
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on May 24, 1948 with Burt Lancaster and Lizabeth Scott reprising their film roles.