First of two pictures in a row in which Olivia de Havilland stepped into a role originally announced for Joan Crawford. She also replaced Crawford in Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964).
According to a July 10, 1962 letter, Joan Crawford was set to play the lead in this film. Crawford says: "I've finished The Caretakers (1963) now, and am deep in rehearsals with Bette Davis on What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). We will start shooting the picture on the 23rd, for four weeks. Then I hope to fly to New York with the twins to put them in school, and will return to Los Angeles to make 'Lady in a Cage'."
Although he had made an appearance in Irma la Douce (1963), this was James Caan's first credited feature film role after getting his start with sporadic television parts.
James Caan modelled his performance in the film after Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).
Early use of the word gay to describe a homosexual man.