John Huston only finished the final edit hours before the film's December premiere to qualify it for Academy Award consideration.
Artist Marcel Vertès, whose hand is seen making "Lautrec" drawings, paid part of his tuition in art school by forging and selling "Lautrec" drawings.
First film of Sir Christopher Rhodes.
Much of the cinematography was intended to resemble the poster art of Toulouse-Lautrec. Some of the costumes and character makeup also paid homage to his poster art.
Tall actor José Ferrer was transformed into the short artist Toulouse-Lautrec by the use of camera angles, makeup, costume, concealed pits and platforms and short body doubles. Ferrer also used a set of special knee pads of his own design which allowed him to walk on his knees with his lower legs strapped to his upper body. He suffered extreme pain and could only use them for short periods of time. The cane he used in most of his scenes was of absolute necessity. This fact was covered in a LIFE magazine story in 1952.
The first film of Lee Montague.
The first film of Maureen Swanson.
This film and Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! won the same Academy Awards: Art Direction and Costume Design.
Walking on his knees had the unfortunate side-effect of making José Ferrer six inches shorter than Henri Toulouse Lautrec's real height of 5'1".