Harlan and Donald Edgerton are based on Homer and Langley Collyer, two reclusive brothers who lived in a New York City brownstone and who tragically died there in March 1947. Homer was blind and paralyzed and depended upon his brother to bring him food. Langley was killed when a tunnel of stacked newspapers collapsed on him. Parallels between the real life Collyer and fictional Edgerton brothers include false rumors of great wealth hidden in the home and a vast hoard of accumulated items that included dressmaker's dummies, stacked newspapers and a Model T car. The Collyer Brothers, like the Edgerton Brothers, were what are now termed compulsive hoarders.
Lew Ayres, who played Harlan Edgerton, was an actor during the Golden Age of Hollywood who was married (1934-40) to actress/dancer Ginger Rogers, who partnered with dance king Fred Astaire in many musical films.
Albert Salmi, who played Joe Rudolph, was a prolific TV and film actor of the 1950-80s, including the steady role of Yadkin in the second season of the TV series "Daniel Boone", and a recurring role as rascal pirate Alonzo P. Tucker on the TV series "Lost in Space". Sadly, in 1990, his personal life faltered, and he killed his wife of 26 years and then himself.
Albert Salmi and Clint Howard had worked together previously when Albert Salmi made two guest appearances on the Gentle Ben TV Series which starred Clint Howard.