The film had its world premiere in Omaha, Nebraska, Dorothy McGuire's hometown, in late August 1943.
David O. Selznick was the first producer to purchase the rights to the play, and in late March 1941, asked for the PCA's opinion about the property. In response, the PCA advised Selznick that while the basic story was acceptable, "Claudia's interest in the sex life of the animals on the farm, her somewhat naive discussion of her own sex reactions and interests, and the discussion of her pregnancy" would have to be deleted.
Twentieth Century-Fox purchased the rights to the play from David O. Selznick in November 1942. The complicated sale had ramifications for other films, including Jane Eyre (1943) and The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) and provided for the equal division of Dorothy McGuire's contract between Selznick and Twentieth Century-Fox.
Film takes place in rural Connecticut where they have no electricity on the farm in 1943.