Rights to Erskine Caldwell’s yet-to-be-published novel, Claudelle Inglish, were acquired by Warner Bros. in late 1958, as announced in the 31 Dec 1958 DV. Although the expected publishing date for the book was listed as Mar 1959, a 21 Jan 1959 Var item noted that it had been delayed until 24 Nov 1959. A Warner Bros. executive named Michael Garrison, recently promoted from an assistant position, was assigned to produce the picture, according to a 21 May 1959 DV brief, and Mel Dinelli was hired to adapt the script (Horton Foote had previously been attached as screenwriter), as noted in the 3 Jun 1959 Var. Diane McBain’s casting was mentioned in the 1 Dec 1960 DV, which also indicated that Gordon Douglas would direct for producer Leonard Freeman.
       A production chart in the 23 Dec 1960 DV announced that principal photography had begun on 14 Dec 1960. Location filming took place in Stockton, CA, the 28 Aug 1961 DV reported, and the remainder of shooting took place on the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, CA.
       The picture opened on 20 Sep 1961 in New York City, where it played on a double bill with The Steel Claw (1961, see entry). Critical reception was largely negative. However, Howard Shoup received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design (Black-and-White).
       Robert Logan made his feature film acting debut in Claudelle Inglish. Logan had recently been discovered while pitching for the Los Angeles City College baseball team and had been signed to a multiple-picture deal with Warner Bros.
       The following actors and actresses were cast, according to various items published in DV, Los Angeles Sentinel, and LAT between Jan and Feb 1961: Pat Colby; Bill Suiter; George Mayon; Susan Crane; Kim Hector; Zelda Cleaver; Bobby Buntrock; and Tommy DeMilo, who was set to perform the role of a carnival barker. More Less