'Larry Parks', who had played Al Jolson in The Jolson Story and Jolson Sings Again, was signed from Columbia by Warner Brothers to reprise his role of Jolson in this movie. However he was blacklisted for being a communist in late 1951, and shooting commenced on January 1952, so Warner Brothers replaced the character of Jolson with that of Jimmy Durante.
John Anderson's first movie role.
After attending the premiere of this film, Eddie Cantor said, "If that was my life, I didn't live."
The character of "Rocky Kramer," played by Gerald Mohr, is based on Louie Lepke, founder of Murder, Incorporated. Lepke and Eddie Cantor grew up together in the same neighborhood.