Vincent Price had to work hard could to convince producer Joseph L. Mankiewicz to cast him as Van Ryn. Mankiewicz remembered him as the good-natured guy in Laura (1944) or as a portly prelate in his last film,The Keys of the Kingdom (1944). But determined to convince him, Price lost the 30lbs he had gained for the film, auditioned, and won the coveted role.
Dragonwyck (1946) is the directorial debut of Joseph L. Mankiewicz who would go on to a storied directing career, including Oscar® wins for his work on A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and All About Eve (1950).
The family name Schermerhorn, which is the subject of gossip at the ball at Dragonwyck is the name of Screenwriter Joseph L. Mankiewicz's ex-in-laws.
Gregory Peck was the first choice to play Nicholas Van Ryn, but he bowed out upon learning Ernst Lubitsch was dropping out as director. After second choice Laird Cregar died, Vincent Price was assigned.
Filmed between February and May 1945, but not released until a year later, in April 1946. The end title still carries a "For Victory" War Bond promotional message, even though, by the time it was publicly shown, WWII had been over for several months.