Milton Berle placed ads in Hollywood trade papers seeking a Best Supporting Oscar nomination for playing himself.
Arthur Miller revised the script so that more emphasis was given to his wife, Marilyn Monroe. Gregory Peck, originally cast opposite Monroe, left the project, unhappy about the way his role had been diminished. He said the script was "now about as funny as pushing grandma down the stairs in a wheelchair." In addition he did not want to work with Monroe after hearing about her reputation for being late every day. Rock Hudson was considered an ideal replacement based on his ability to play comedy, but Universal would not release him. That pleased Monroe, who wanted Montand for the part.
Married co-stars Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand embarked on an ill-fated affair during the shooting of the film.
Writer Norman Krasna initially viewed the male lead as one the audience would view as a kind of a "shitkicker" - a Gary Cooper or a Jimmy Stewart. Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Rock Hudson, James Stewart and Yul Brynner all turned down the male lead. Yves Montand was cast after starring in The Crucible (US title: The Crucible), based on a play also written by Miller.