It was adapted by Augustus Goetz and Ruth Goetz from their play, which was adapted from the novel Washington Square by Henry James. It was directed by William Wyler.
The movie won Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Olivia de Havilland), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White, Best Costume Design, Black-and-White (Edith Head and Gile Steele) and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Aaron Copland). It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ralph Richardson), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Director and Best Picture.
The film has since been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.