Filming on this movie coincided with that year's Academy Awards. Co-star Martin Balsam was a Best Supporting Actor nominee for A Thousand Clowns (1965), but did not receive permission to leave the set. Balsam sneaked off to attend the ceremony; he won the Oscar.
Steve McQueen was offered the role of John Russell but turned it down because it reminded him of Melodie Batchelor, in which he played a half-Indian. After the release of this film, McQueen said it was one of Paul Newman's best roles.
Intense rainstorms made the shooting very difficult. Paul Newman, during that time, played tennis, got drunk, and engaged in bawdy conversations with Martin Balsam.
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