This film was the first film Kurosawa directed outside of Toho, as it was a co-production between Daiei Studios and the newly formed Art Film Association, of which Kurosawa was a founding member.
This was Akira Kurosawa's only collaboration with famed film composer Akira Ifukube. The two clashed intensely over creative differences during filming.
This film was not released in the U.S. until 1979.
Wakayo Matsumura's debut.