In late 1958, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. optioned screen rights to Tom T. Chamales’s not-yet-published novel, The Rent in His Hand, as stated in a 26 Dec 1958 DV news item. Months later, the 15 Apr 1959 Var announced the studio’s new policy to decide the titles of optioned works that were still in galley form, if the author’s working title was deemed unsuitable “for subsequent promotion.” According to the new policy, Metro changed the title of Chamales’s novel to Go Naked in the World. Scribner published the book under that name in late Sep 1959.
       The 1 Dec 1959 DV listed Karl Malden as a likely leading man. Around the same time, news items in the 6 Jan 1960 and 21 Jan 1960 issues of DV stated that Dina Merrill was under consideration for the role of “Nick Stratton’s” ex-girlfriend and Robert Loggia was being sought as a possible co-star.
       On 8 Feb 1960, DV reported that a pre-production unit was scheduled to begin filming in San Francisco, CA, that day. A production chart in the 19 Feb 1960 DV confirmed that principal photography began the following week, on 15 Feb 1960. Soon after, filming was halted by a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike beginning on 7 Mar 1960. An article in the 6 Mar 1960 NYT explained that the guilds were seeking a share of income studios received from selling television rights to films made after 1948, none of which currently went to actors or writers. Go Naked in the World was one of two MGM pictures forced to cease production, in addition to Butterfield 8 (1960, see entry). An agreement was reached between the studios and the guilds on 8 Apr 1960, as reported in the following day’s NYT. Filming on Go Naked in the World resumed 14 Apr 1960, according that day’s DV. In the meantime, novelist Tom Chamales died in a fire at his apartment, the 21 Mar 1960 NYT reported.
       Production was scheduled to move to Mexico in mid-May 1960, where location shooting was slated to take place in Acapulco and Mexico City, as noted in 28 Apr 1960 and 9 May 1960 DV items. An 18 May 1960 Var brief named Walter Strohm as a crew member, and stated that filming would also be done in Taxco and Cuernavaca. In the small town of Pie de la Cuesta, a town hall, a school, and a church were repainted for use in the film, according to the 23 May 1960 DV.
       Principal photography ended on 3 Jun 1960, as stated in that day’s DV. The following month, re-shoots were conducted on the MGM studio lot in Los Angeles, CA, beginning on 19 Jul 1960, according to the next day’s DV. On 27 Jul 1960, Var indicated that Gina Lollobrigida’s double, Martha Reynolds, was currently standing in for the actress for re-shoots in Mexico City.
       Critical reception was markedly negative. Following a string of bad reviews in New York-based publications, an article in the 15 Mar 1961 Var stated that industry insiders were having a hard time recalling “prior instances of a major release being so badly reviewed in the dailies.” Some condemned the picture for its vulgarity, and a group of ministers protested the film when it showed at a Memphis, TN, theater, leading to a meeting called by the mayor to discuss film censorship issues, as noted in the 21 Feb 1961 DV. A motion to ban the film in Ireland was later defeated by seven votes to six, according to a 13 Sep 1961 Var news brief.
       The following performers were listed as cast members in DV items published between Nov 1959 and May 1960: Mort Sahl; singer Joni James; Harold Goodwin; and Ricky Vera. Zena Provendie served as Gina Lollobrigida’s voice coach, the 14 Apr 1960 LAT stated.