Shot in Technicolor, the film stars Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards and is narrated by Horace McNally.

[1] Stefan Dubechek, an immigrant from Central Europe, arrives in America in the 1890s and travels to the Midwest, where he joins his cousin Anton working in the steel mills.

Stefan's youngest son Teddy goes to work for them, and rather than join the executive ranks he starts at the "bottom" and becomes involved in union activities.

The film is interspersed with documentary footage, and concludes with B-17s Flying Fortreses being built at Douglas Aircraft factory.

[3][4] The film was part of a trilogy directed and produced by King Vidor consisting of war, wheat and steel.

A The screenplay was ultimately credited to Herbert Dalmas and William Ludwig, representing a long list of contributing writers, including John Fante, and alternate titles.

[6] Vidor says the lead character was inspired by immigrants such as Andrew Carnegie, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, William S. Knudsen and Walter Chrysler.

"[9] Vidor initially wanted to cast Spencer Tracy as Steve Dangos, Ingrid Bergman as Anna and Joseph Cotten as the lead character's friend Howard Clinton.

They were made up and tested in all the various ages from youth to full maturity called for in the script, and they gave performances of striking conviction.

Other scenes were filmed at the Chrysler automobile factory in Detroit, the Consolidated Plant in San Diego and the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California.

[19] An American Romance made its world premiere in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 11, 1944, opened in New York City on November 12, 1944, and in Los Angeles on December 13, 1944.

They cut the human elements of the story instead of the documentary sections, explaining that this was the only way a half hour could be taken out without complications in the musical soundtrack.

[21]King Vidor later said: The picture was spoilt for me by Brian Donlevy and by the girl (Ann Richards), who was not very exciting, and by the cutting.

[9]Vidor later reflected "Donlevy gives a fine performance but as a star he does not symbolize that intangible element that would have lifted the role to greatness.