Although Son of Sinbad (1955) marked Kim Novak's first screen assignment, The French Line was her first released picture in a bit part as a fashion model.
Jane Russell's dance to "Looking for Trouble" was shot in two versions. For the American release, she did her pelvic bumps behind a flower planter. For the European release, the bumps were done without anything hiding them.
Originally presented in 3-D, with the tagline "See Jane Russell in 'The French Line' - she'll knock BOTH your eyes out!"
Initially, Jane Russell was to have performed her "Lookin' for Trouble" number in a bikini, a bathing suit that was quite racy for 1954. She wore the skimpy outfit for a production still (later reproduced in her autobiography) but complained that she felt "very naked" in front of the movie's crew. Eventually a compromise was reached, and she appeared in the one-piece outfit shown in the movie.
Despite being denied approval by the Production Code Office and being condemned by the Catholic League of Decency, the film sold 60,000 tickets in the first five days of its premiere run in St. Louis.