* TheDanza: Creator/MarcelloMastroianni as Marcello Rubini, Riccardo Garrone as Riccardo, Nadia Gray as Nadia.
* FakeNationality: The film was a French co-production, so several of the actors (Anouk Aimée, Yvonne Furneaux, Magali Noël, Alain Cuny, Jacques Sernas, Nadia Gray) are French-playing-Italians.
* LateExportForYou: The film wasn't released in Spain until 1981 because of moral censorship.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Dino De Laurentiis wanted Creator/PaulNewman for Marcello Rubini, but Creator/FedericoFellini wouldn't hear of it. Fellini did consider Creator/BurtLancaster.
** De Laurentiis wanted Creator/BarbaraStanwyck for Nadia.
** Fellini originally wanted Creator/HenryFonda for Steiner.
** A scene was mooted that involved Marcello's relationship with an older writer, Dolores, to be played by Oscar winning actress Luise Rainer. After much protracted discussions and difficulties, due to Creator/LuiseRainer's wish to rewrite her role somewhat, Federico Fellini cancelled the scene altogether. The actress was furious, reportedly saying, "I have spoiled a priceless piece of cloth on this character that will never be!"
* WriteWhoYouKnow: Steiner was based on the Italian author and intellectual Cesare Pavese whom one of the screenwriters went to school with [[spoiler:and who equally committed suicide]].
----