The film started production in the San Francisco produce market, through the cooperation of the Wholesale Fruit and Produce Dealers Association. After the studio decided to use the title of the source novel "Thieves' Market" for the film, the Dealers Association strongly protested, and the title was changed.
According to director Jules Dassin, Jack Oakie was completely deaf by the time of this film. "He caused absolutely no delays," Dassin said.
In a later interview, director Jules Dassin said the shot of the debris field from Ed's wreck was his all-time favorite.
In his introduction to the film on TCM's "Noir Alley", Eddie Muller stated this was the picture that got him "hooked" on film noir as a young teen while playing hooky from school and seeing it on television.
Richard Conte had a real job as a truck driver before being "discovered" by Elia Kazan and John Garfield on the New York stage in 1935.