Two endings were shot: One happy and one sad - the latter for the Russian market.
Footage shot in New York in 1913 present a vivid historical record of street life, including the chaos of traffic. No pedestrian crossings appear, and people casually jaywalk into traffic to cross the street, unconcerned with motor cars bearing down on them. The long shot around Lower Manhattan concludes at the site of the future World Trade Centre, with the white Woolworth's Building, completed in 1913, on the far left. Companies advertising on giant billboards in Times Square (as filmed from the New York Times tower looking north with the Astor hotel on left) include Kellogg's and Fatima cigarettes.
Shooting was done on actual streets, and several shots featured passersby confused by the cameras and the action the cameras were filming. On the street before the restaurant where Miss Burns meets Dr. von Kammacher, passengers jammed into a passing open motorcar wave merrily at the camera.
For the reconstruction of the tragedy, the Danish production company has not stinted. A wreck was built for the incredible sum of 10,000 marks, the shooting lasted more than three months and it required 80 first class actors and no less than 500 extras.
The actress portraying Friedrich's mother (Marie Dinesen) is actually 5 years younger than the actor portraying her son (Olaf Fonss).