Vincent Price was brought in at the last minute to substitute for Robert Cummings, who had become indisposed through illness. Price was cast most likely because he had forged a good working relationship with producer Burt Kelly and Joe May in October 1939 while working on The Invisible Man Returns (1940).
The House of the Seven Gables (1940), was originally budgeted at $161,625, and the production wrapped two days over schedule with the cast and crew typically working until 10 p.m. Final cost: $178,000.
Three members of the cast, George Sanders, Vincent Price, and Alan Napier would later join the cast of Batman (1966). Sanders appearing as Mr. Freeze, Price as Egghead, and Napier as faithful butler Alfred.
Film historian Colin Briggs wrote that a letter he had received from Margaret Lindsay indicated that her part in this film was her "favorite role."