The film is based on author Michael Blankfort's novel with the same title. Initially, producer Stanley Kramer wanted Blankfort to direct the film but he was refused a passport for travel to Israel by the United States State Department because he had been a Communist many years earlier. Kramer re-assigned the film to director Edward Dmytryk who served almost a year in prison in 1948 after being convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to divulge his political affiliations. After his release from prison, Dmytryk moved to England but returned to the U.S. and gave testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities and, as a result, was removed from the film industry blacklist.
First Hollywood feature film shot in the relatively new state of Israel.
Due to inadequate filming facilities in Israel, producer Stanley Kramer had to shoot the interiors in Hollywood.He had intended to shoot the entire picture in Israel.
Kirk Douglas had a severe argument with director Edward Dmytryk because he had to stay too long on the set for the close-up shooting. But Douglas eventually apologized to his director by sending him a large box of cigars and bouquets of flowers.
Kirk Douglas and Charles Lane (camp director Rosenberg) both lived to be centenarians; Douglas lived to 103 and Lane to 102.