Stephen Boyd nearly drowned while shooting this film. He was saved by co-star David Wayne, according to Boyd in a December 11, 1960 appearance as a Mystery Guest on What's My Line?.
Darryl Zanuck behaved very badly on the set according to director Fleischer. He was not only there for scenes involving girlfriend Juliette Greco but for the other actors as well - including rehearsals. He sat in his chair smoking a cigar but not looking up from the script ON the set, something that Fleischer had never seen before or since. If an actor had to move, he had to move around Zanuck.