The original 1924 Broadway production made Walter Huston a Broadway star; he was 40 years old, playing a septuagenarian. He was later in several more Eugene O'Neill plays.
The original Broadway production of "Desire Under the Elms" by Eugene O'Neill opened at the Greenwich Village Theatre on November 11, 1924 and ran for 420 performances which including using the Earl Carroll Theatre, George M. Cohan's Theatre and Daly's 63rd Street Theatre. The play was revived in 2009.
Burl Ives was 48 years old playing a 76-year-old in this film.
Burl Ives was a zealous Christian who would loosen his vocal chords by thunderously reciting verses from the Bible. Sophia Loren commented 'Dio mio, he's a religious man. When he's not acting, he's in his dressing room praying.'