Trivia / The Set-Up

• Actor-Shared Background: Robert Ryan had been a boxer while a student at Dartmouth University.
• Creator's Favorite Episode: This was Robert Ryan's favorite of his own films.
• Executive Meddling: In the poem the movie is based on, Stoker is African-American, but RKO wouldn't allow Robert Wise to cast an African-American in the lead role.
• Playing Against Type: This is one of the few sympathetic roles Robert Ryan played in his career.
• What Could Have Been: Joan Blondell was considered for the part of Julie.