To add accuracy to the film, an authentic turn-of-the-century cigarette maker was purchased as a prop.
Patricia Neal, who was involved in a three-year off-screen romance with Gary Cooper, very much wanted to play the Lauren Bacall role, but Warners refused to test her.
Nita Talbot was discovered by Warner Bros. executives and given a movie contract because of her strong resemblance to Lauren Bacall. Talbot around this time was using the name Ginger Grey (Gray).
Documentary filmmaker Ross McElwee was under the impression this film mirrored his great-grandfather's contributions to the Bull Durham tobacco industry, along with his rival James B. Duke, in post-Civil War Durham, NC. He even made a documentary called "Bright Leaves" (2003) about it.