Cast the Expert: The in-house band seen in the film comprised several real-life jazz musicians, including bandleader Bobby Hutcherson; trumpeters Hugh Bell and Teddy Buckner; trombonists Thurman Green and Les Robertson; saxophonists Hadley Caliman, Teddy Edwards, and Harold Land; double-bassist Ike Isaacs; pianist Ronnell Bright; and drummer Joe Harris.
The film was released in Spanish as Danzad, danzad, malditos ("Dance, Dance, You Damned (Ones)") in Spain and as Baile de ilusiones ("Dance of Illusions") in Latin America. Incidentally, when the novel was translated to Spanish, it kept a close translation of the original title (¿Acaso no matan a los caballos?).
In Portuguese, while the film kept in Portugal a title relatively closer to the original (Os cavalos também se abatem, "Horses Are Also Slaughtered"), in Brazil it was titled A noite dos desesperados ("The Night of the Desperate (Ones)").
Gig Young specialized in playing affable characters in comedies (typically as the male lead's best friend), so the cynical and unscrupulous Rocky was a notable change-of-pace that earned him an Oscar.
Jane Fonda was mostly known for her comedic "sex kitten" characters prior to this film. Her performance as Gloria helped to establish her credentials as a dramatic actress.
Real Song Theme Tune: "Easy Come, Easy Go", a Depression-era standard written by Johnny Green (who served as the film's musical director) and Edward Heyman.
Horace McCoy's novel was first discussed for a film adaptation in 1952, with Norman Lloyd as director and Charlie Chaplin as producer. Lloyd purchased the rights to the film, and planned to cast Chaplin's son Sydney and then-newcomer Marilyn Monroe as Robert and Gloria. However, while the initial paperwork was being sorted out, Chaplin travelled to Europe for the London premiere of Limelight, and in his absence, J. Edgar Hoover ordered the INS to revoke his re-entry permit due to his alleged Communist ties (he would not return to the U.S. until he was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1972). The project was suspended indefinitely, and when McCoy died in 1955, his heirs refused to renew the deal with Lloyd.
James Poe wrote the initial screenplay treatment and intended to direct the film, but was fired after an unsuccessful screen test with Jane Fonda and Bonnie Bedelia. William Friedkin and Jack Smight were candidates to direct before the producers settled on Sydney Pollack. Poe's script was subsequently re-written by Robert Thompson.
Sondra Locke was offered the role of Ruby but turned it down.
At one point Susannah York threatened to drop out of the film over a contract dispute, and Sally Kellerman was considered as a replacement for her as Alice.
