Many disputes arose between photographer James Wong Howe and his associate, Technicolor photographer Wilfrid M. Cline about which colors to use in wardrobe and sets. Cline wanted bright primary colors, while Howe insisted on subdued earth tones. Since Howe got his way, after one week they were not on speaking terms and the Technicolor company banned Howe from shooting further pictures using their process. Save for his uncredited work on the live-action segments for Fantasia (1940), Howe did not make another Technicolor film for 10 years.
A fourteen year old Anne Baxter was called in to test with a youthful Montgomery Clift as Tom, but the actor's acne was so bad at the time that the test was never made and both were sent back to New York.
Walter Brennan (Muff Potter) and Victor Jory (Injun Joe) met while filming this movie and became lifelong friends.
Beulah Bondi replaced an ailing May Robson, but when Robson recovered more quickly than anticipated, she returned to filming and replaced her replacement, much to Miss Bondi's chagrin.
Marcia Mae Jones was originally signed to play Becky Thatcher. Because of a growth spurt, she was recast as Mary Sawyer.