Trivia / The Flowers of St. Francis

• Amateur Cast: With the exception of Aldo Fabrizi, the actor who played Nicolaio, everyone in the film is played by a non-actor.
• Cast the Expert: The men who played St. Francis of Assisi and his followers were actual Franciscan friars. In accordance with their Rule, they refused payment, but the filmmakers wanted to give them something. Rossellini expected that they would ask for something charitable like a soup kitchen. However, the Franciscans surprised everyone by asking for a fireworks display. Rossellini got the town to produce an elaborate fireworks display that was the talk of the region for years.