A 31 Mar 1964 DV item announced that Frank Sinatra had agreed to star in Cy Howard’s original comedy, Community Property, for Warner Bros. Pictures. Several reports indicated that Divorce--American Style also served as a working title, but by 1965, the title had been finalized as Marriage on the Rocks.
       According to the 8 Feb 1965 LAT, Ann-Margret and Mia Farrow were both considered to play Sinatra’s onscreen daughter, “Tracy Edwards,” but his real-life daughter, Nancy Sinatra, lobbied Howard for the role while her father was out of town. Items in the 17 Mar 1965 DV, 26 Mar 1965 LAT, and 23 Apr 1965 DV included the following names among the cast: Stanley Farrar; Frank Gerstle; Jean Bartel; Nacho Galindo; and Linda Foster, Gave Gordon, and Billie Adair, who were to portray the three girl friends of Dean Martin’s character, “Ernie Brewer.”
       A 24 Feb 1965 Var news story stated that Sammy Cahn had agreed to compose a title theme for $12,500; however, the song, “There Was A Sinner Man,” was written and performed by Trini Lopez, who cameos as himself in the film.
       A 2 Apr 1965 DV production chart indicated that principal photography began 8 Mar 1965. While most filming took place on the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, CA, the 28 Apr 1965 Var reported that the unit also shot exteriors outside Dean Martin’s Brentwood, CA, home.
       On 21 Apr 1965, Var announced Howard’s plan to novelize his screenplay for Popular Library, which would publish the paperback in conjunction with the film’s release. According to the 7 Sep 1965 DV, a dual opening was planned at the RKO 58th St. and Loew’s Capitol Theatres in New York City on 24 Sep 1965. An 18 Aug 1965 Var brief claimed that Marriage on the Rocks would debut in twenty-three key cities on 29 Sep 1965, followed by a national release on 2 Oct 1965. However, the 3 Oct 1965 LAT indicated that the picture was not released in Los Angeles, CA, until 6 Oct 1965.