The picture was retitled Spin of a Coin for release in the United Kingdom, a reference to Raft's character's nickel-flipping trick in Scarface (1932), the film that launched his career as an actor known for portraying gangsters.

Neville Brand appears briefly as Al Capone, recreating his role from the 1959 television series The Untouchables.

The film does not mention Raft's estranged wife Grace or early mob benefactor Owney Madden.

Raft moves to Hollywood and begins his film career as an extra before being cast as a gangster in Scarface.

Raft becomes a major star and broadens his image by appearing in a 1934 musical film with dancing titled Bolero.

Allied Artists announced the film in 1959 as part of a slate of projects including Streets of Montamarte with Lana Turner as Suzanne Valadon, The Purple Gang with Barry Sullivan, Teacher was a Sexpot with Mamie Van Doren, Confessions of an English Opium Eater, Pay or Die with Ernest Borgnine as Joseph Petrosino and The Big Bankroll about Arnold Rothstein.

The Las Vegas comedy team of Pepper Davis and Tony Reece was signed to play a support role.

Not long ago, the actor himself, who may be as nice a guy as they come, candidly filled in a brass-tacks account to a national magazine.

"[2] Los Angeles Times critic John L. Scott called The George Raft Story "a vigorous but curious film play" and wrote: "It is rather strange that Crane Wilbur's screen play places more emphasis on its central figure's friendships for gangland figures than with his lengthy career as an entertainer.