Errol Flynn's alcoholism had become a round-the-clock problem, and he was frequently at odds with John Huston. At one point, he provoked Huston into a fight; while Flynn was a former amateur boxer, the years of fast living had taken a heavy toll on him, and Huston, himself a former professional boxer, flattened Flynn with a single punch.
William Holden was originally cast with top billing. However, he later pulled out and was replaced by Trevor Howard. Errol Flynn was then given top billing, even though Howard had the lead role.
In his 1959 autobiography "My Wicked, Wicked Ways", Errol Flynn wrote that he enjoyed making this film more than any other.
As had happened during shooting of The African Queen (1951) almost every person involved contracted amoebic dysentery except for John Huston and Errol Flynn, who had brought copious amounts of alcohol which kept the sickness at bay.
This was Errol Flynn's last major film before his death the following year. His final film was Cuban Rebel Girls (1959).