Jack Palance was originally hired for the role of "Mr. Brown", but after clashing with the producers, he left the production. Before leaving he recommended they hire Richard Conte to replace him, which they did.
The names 'Fante' and 'Mingo' were later used by writer-director Joss Whedon for two characters - twin brothers - that the Serenity crew meet in the movie Serenity.
This film skirted the Production Code by making several not-too-subtle hints that Mr. Brown's henchmen, Fante and Mingo (played by Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman), were a homosexual couple.