The story was inspired by Senator Estes Kefauver's tactics in coercing Virginia Hill to testify in the Bugsy Siegel prosecution.
In reality, a witness in a federal court trial would be under the protection of the U.S. Marshal's service.
Lloyd Hallett, played by Edward G. Robinson, tries to get a woman to testify against a mobster. At the time, Robinson' career was in a downswing because of his own testimony as a friendly witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee, despite being one of Hollywood's most notable liberals. Oddly enough, it was the conservative Cecil B. DeMille who restarted Robinson's career by casting him as Dathan in The Ten Commandments (1956).
Based on the play "Dead Pigeon" that opened on Broadway in New York City on 23 December 1953 at the Vanderbilt Theatre, 148 W. 48th St. and ran for 21 performances.
Sherry Conley and Vince Striker were supposed to be around the same age. In real-life, Ginger Rogers was over a decade older than Brian Keith.