When Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin signed with Paramount Pictures, it was with the proviso that they could make one film outside the studio every year for their own company, York Productions. This film was the first fruit of that negotiation, with the stars exchanging their usual salary for a 90% cut of the profits. However, on the film's release, the two found themselves in the midst of a protracted legal battle over their contract and the profits. After several years they relinquished all financial interest in the film in exchange for dropping their stipulation that they make films outside of Paramount. All the legal battles over the film are probably one of the main reasons why its copyright was not renewed in 1977, with the film ending up in the public domain.
Although Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin had appeared together in films twice before, this marks their first starring vehicle as a comedy duo.
When Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin perform their special "impersonation" together, they are re-enacting scenes from Going My Way (1944) starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald.
The film is based on a play by James B. Allardice that ran for 151 performances from 1948-49 with Mike Kellin and Kenneth Forbes repeating their roles.