Trivia

According to the book 'The Golden Gong---Fifty years of the Rank Organisation, its films and its stars' by Quentin Falk, "While at premiere of a Disney film, 'Robin Hood' [See: The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)], he [Earl St. John] was particularly impressed by the young man who played the Sheriff of Nottingham. The name on the programme was that of Peter Finch. St. John bumped into Finch on the stairs of the theatre and invited him to come and talk business at Pinewood. Next day he gave Finch what would be a pivotal role in his burgeoning career: the Australian soldier, Joe, in A Town Like Alice (1956).

Twenty-five years after this film was made, Jean Anderson (Miss Horsefall) would also star in the BBC drama series Tenko (1981) which was also about the experiences of a group of women (and children) held as prisoners of war by the Japanese in WWII. Both productions made extensive use of Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire UK, standing in for the exterior scenes set in the Malaysian jungle/swamps, etc. due to its tropical environment.

A Town Like Alice (1956) was officially withdrawn from the 1956 Cannes Film Festival for fear that it would offend the Japanese. However, it was reportedly warmly received by the Japanese delegation at a private screening. It was supposed to be shown but after protestations the French surrendered the second day of the festival. "The festivals are just a joke---a film-selling 'racket' which offers the chance for vulgar display and reckless extravagance," said Peter Finch. "They serve no cultural purpose and the awards don't mean a thing."

The "Alice" of the film's title A Town Like Alice (1956) refers to the town of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The film is based on the 1950 novel of the same name by Nevil Shute. The film does not follow the whole novel, concluding at the end of part two and truncating or omitting much detail.