Orson Welles's then wife Rita Hayworth was scheduled to appear with him in the magic show sequence, but her iron-clad contract at Columbia Pictures prohibited her from being loaned out to a rival studio. Marlene Dietrich, then taking a brief break from entertaining the troops overseas, stepped in.
Decca Records star Bing Crosby, who did not appear in this film, combined with The Andrews Sisters on two "Billboard"-charting songs featured in the score: "Vic'try Polka" (music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Sammy Cahn), sung in the picture at the conclusion of a greatest-hits medley by 'The Andrews Sisters, a number-five "Billboard" tune in 1943; and "Is You Is or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)" (music and lyrics by Louis Jordan and Billy Austin (I)), performed in the movie by Mr. Jordan singing with his orchestra, a number-two "Billboard" ditty for Crosby and the trio in 1944. On their own, the Andrews Sisters waxed for Decca and then repeated in this film a jivey song of farewell, "Shoo-Shoo" Baby" (music and lyrics by Phil Moore). Between late December 1943 and mid-April 1944, the sisters' 78 ranked as high as #3 among the "Billboard"-charting singles. Placing alongside was the Ella Mae Morse cut of "Shoo-Shoo Baby" on Capitol. In another musical from Universal, South of Dixie, Ella gave out with her rend
In the "Beyond the Blue Horizon" number (previously used in Monte Carlo) the lyric "rising sun" were chanced to "shining sun", to avoid any associations to the Japanese flag.
Recorded with just a choral background since the American Federation of Musicians' wartime strike continued against Victor Records, Dinah Shore's blockbuster 78 of the Oscar-nominated, eternal love song, "I'll Walk Alone" (music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Sammy Cahn) held the apex of the "Billboard" singles chart for three weeks, between November 4 and November 18, 1944. A #3 "Billboard" single of another tune from the movie was the jaunty "Is You Is or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)" (music and lyrics and Louis Jordan and Billy Austin (I)). Decca Records (having settled with the musicians' union) released the record by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five.
Since the Guest Stars are credited in the opening set of credits, but are not in the more comprehensive end credits, the opening credits are listed first, followed by those in the end credits not yet in, as required by IMDb policy on cast ordering.
This was W.C. Fields's last filmed appearance. He had supported the war effort, but his health was declining. His billiards routine (using a trick table) was a crowd pleaser. Even though it had been filmed previously, Fields was paid $15,000 to perform the routine again on camera.