ThelastyearoflifeoftheItalian-FrenchpainterAmedeoModigliani(1884-1920)whodiedwith36years,wasplayedbyGérardPhilipe,whowaslethallysickduringtheshootingofthismovieanddiedshortlyafteritsrelease,1959,with36years-ononeofthetwodiseasesthatModiglianohadhimselfandexactlyinhisage.Further,thismoviewasdirectedbyJacquesBecker-afterthesuddendeathofMaxOphüls.Becker,too,diedonly2yearsafterthismovie.