Lewis Allen, lyricist for the title song, is the pseudonym of Abel Meeropol (1903-86), best known for the anti-lynching poem and later song "Strange Fruit," made famous by Billie Holiday. He is credited as Lewis Allen because of the blacklist. When he saw the film for the first time, he walked out because the line in his lyric "my neighbors white and black" was not included in the film.
Frank Sinatra tells of the sinking of the 'Haruna' as though it occurred soon ("a few days") after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The 'Haruna' actually sank on July 28, 1945. Sinatra was more likely referring to the events that occurred on December 10, 1941. On that date, B-17C Flying Fortress heavy bomber, piloted by Captain Colin Kelly, was flying over waters near the Philippines, when bombardier, Sergeant Meyer Levin, released the series of bombs over the light cruiser 'Natori' and an escorting destroyer 'Harukaze.' The 'Natori' was hit, but, not sunk. On its return flight, the B-17 was and attacked by Japanese fighters and crashed. Kelly was killed. Levin survived, but died on January 7, 1943, when the Flying Fortress in which he was bombardier crashed in poor weather after a bombing run. Both Kelly and Levin are mentioned by Sinatra.
Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2007.