The lead role was offered to Doris Day but she (or her husband Martin Melcher) declined after fearing it would damage her pure-as-the-driven-snow screen image.
At the time, the Motion Picture Production Code prohibited the portrayal of illicit (i.e. premarital) sex as harmless or positive. For the film to be approved under the Code, a line had to be inserted in post-production in which Chris expresses his regret at having had premarital sex with Alice. As David Niven was not available, the line was done as a voice-over impression of Niven by voice actor Allen Swift.
Kitty Carlisle and Macdonald Carey starred in the hit Broadway production which ran for 611 performances from April 7, 1954 to September 24, 1955.