Gene Kelly's film debut. It is known that Judy Garland got him the job after seeing him in the Broadway musical "Pal Joey".
This was the first film in which Judy Garland had her name billed before the title, which showed her growing importance and stature at MGM.
When it was decided that the costume worn by Mártha Eggerth while she performed "Do I Love You?" revealed too much cleavage, all close-ups of her during the number were blurred at the bodice.
Judy Garland helped Gene Kelly get cast in this film when MGM didn't want him. He repaid her the favor with the movie Summer Stock (1950). Judy Garland was at the end of her contract with MGM, and Gene Kelly insisted she be in the film with him.
This is the first of two movies in which a character (Gene Kelly, in this case) says to Judy Garland, "Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?" The second is Easter Parade (1948), starring Fred Astaire in a role that was originally meant for... Gene Kelly.