This movie is based on the true story of the murders of three Melbourne women by a US Army private stationed near the city during World War II. The series of killings are known as The Brown-Out Murders while the killer, Pvt. Eddie Leonski, was known as "The Brownout Strangler" or "The Brownout Murderer". "Brown-out" was a term used during the war when people would dim the lights in their houses to reduce the chances of enemy airplanes using them as a "beacon" for aerial bombing. At the time of the murders, Melbourne was in the thick of brown-out, in which the streets were dark and shadowy.
American Pvt. Edward Joseph Leonski was hanged at Pentridge Prison, Coburg, Victoria, Australia, on 9 November 1942. The order of execution was signed-off personally by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
The film's director, Philippe Mora, was at one time sacked from the production, but later reinstated.
The character of Maj. Patrick Dannenberg, played by James Coburn, was based on Ira C. Rothgerber, who was the military legal counsel for Pvt. Edward Leonski.
Frank Thring: The veteran Australian thespian as a Street Religious Speaker crying out about the "Brown-out Killer".
Terence Donovan: The veteran Australian television actor as World War II Australia's wartime Prime Miniser, John Curtin.