At one point during rehearsals, director Sidney Lumet felt that Sir Ralph Richardson wasn't really getting the proper measure of his character, James Tyrone. Lumet took Richardson aside and launched into a 45-minute lecture about his character's motivations. Richardson finally stopped him by saying "I see what you mean, dear boy, a little more cello, a little less flute." Lumet confessed to being enormously impressed with this way of expressing it.
The film was reportedly shot for $435,000 over 37 days, two days over schedule. The entire film was shot in-sequence, after three weeks of rehearsals. Sidney Lumet later wrote that the total budget was $490,000. Exteriors were shot at a house on City Island in the Bronx, and interiors were on sets at Chelsea Television Studios in Manhattan.
According to Katharine Hepburn biographer Charles Higham, she became so upset with Dean Stockwell when he showed up on the first day of shooting with a bottle of vodka, she almost struck him. When she discovered he found the set very cold, she bought him a coat, which he later found in his dressing room.
When director Sidney Lumet approached Katharine Hepburn in her home, she received him without even saying hello or "how do you do," and abruptly asked him a technical question about the film. Lumet said that he was not disappointed by this behavior. On the contrary, he already knew at this point that she was perfect for the role.
This movie takes place in August 1912.