During location shooting in San Diego, Robert Stack's wife was about to have their first child. While filming the tense scene where Stack propositions his on-screen wife (played by Dorothy Malone), a plane suddenly flew right by the cameras with letters tailing four feet tall proclaiming IT'S A GIRL! Rock Hudson had arranged to have the hospital call immediately when the news came and hired a stunt pilot to tow the message behind the plane. Stack was deeply moved by Hudson's generosity, saying in his autobiography, "It's a moment I've never forgotten. Anybody who tells me that Rock Hudson isn't a first-class gent had better put up his dukes."
Originally, Rock Hudson wanted to make his character a more downtrodden, gin-soaked reporter in line with the novel, and with director Douglas Sirk's blessing went to second-hand clothing stores to buy used and tattered clothing, hats and shoes that were ill-fitting. The studio, however, was horrified at their glamorous star looking so unattractive and demanded that he be switched to a more clean-cut and presentable wardrobe, which Sirk and Hudson reluctantly acquiesced too.