The movie was writted by Richard Schweizer {story, uncredited), David Wechsler (story, uncredited), Richard Schweizer (screenplay), David Wechsler (collaborator on screenplay), Paul Jarrico (additional dialogue) and Montgomery Clift (uncredited). It was directed by Fred Zinnemann.
It won a special Juvenile Academy Award for Ivan Jandl, "for the outstanding juvenile performance of 1948 in The Search" and the Academy Award for Best Story. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Montgomery Clift), Best Director and Best Writing, Screenplay.