After the success of The Letter. actor James Stephenson was promoted to star for his next picture, "Shining Victory". Actor Irving Rapper was promoted to director on the project. According to Bette Davis in her biography 'Mother Goddam', "I disguised myself as a nurse and appeared on the set as an extra. Rapper didn't recognize me for the first few takes. I had a ball. Imagine daring to do this today!"
The original play opened in New York City, New York, USA on 9 September 1940, but ran for only 24 performances. The leads were played by Alexander Knox and Jessica Tandy.
The working title of the film was "Winged Victory", but this was changed when it was learned that Moss Hart was writing a morale-boosting World War II play with that title. Hart's play was later filmed with the title Winged Victory.