RKO tested two versions of the film - the one completed by producer Val Lewton and one where several controversial and violent scenes were cut. The final film is the latter version, causing Lewton to disavow the film and tried to have his name removed from the credits.
The movie did poorly at the box office and lost $45,000 according to studio records held at the UCLA Arts--Special Collections Library.
The film was inspired by a photo essay titled "Are These Our Children" in the September 21, 1943 edition of Look magazine. The publishers of Look, however, did not approve of the completed film and refused to promote it in their magazine.
Because RKO re-cut Val Lewton's original version and eliminated several scenes, many cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Margaret Landry (Hysterical Girl), Joan Blair (Mrs. Loring), Molly Lamont (Mrs. Webster), Dorothy Malone (Girl in Booth), Daun Kennedy (Girl in Booth), Mike Road (Boy with Toddy), Donald Kerr (Member of Horse Act), Les Clark (Member of Horse Act), Gordon Jones (Truck Driver), Harry Harvey (Watchman), Jack Gargan (Man at Shooting Gallery) and Don Dillaway (Drunk). Some other more obscure cast members may also have been cut.
This movie was filmed before the April 12, 1945 death of President Roosevelt and released in September 1944 so portraits of the then Presudent Roosevelt can be seen hanging on the walls. Actor Russell Hopton (uncredited actor in mechanics shop) died 5 days before Roosevelt on April 7, 1945.