The surviving print, preserved by the Library of Congress, and occasionally shown on TCM, is the post-Production Code re-release (bearing the re-release Seal of Approval), but since it runs exactly 1:28:40, apparently little alteration was made from the original, whose 1931 New York City opening was clocked at 80 minutes. However, on a couple of occasions, lines of dialogue have been obviously edited out that evidently failed to pass post-code regulations.
This is the first complete film score of multi-Academy Award winner Alfred Newman. Newman composed the eponymous title theme, in the style of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. The theme has been used in other movies, including Schrei der Großstadt (1948), Der Todeskuß (1947), I Wake Up Screaming (1941), Faustrecht der Großstadt (1950), Der weisse Schatten (1946), Tabu der Gerechten (1947), and as the overture to Wie angelt man sich einen Millionär (1953).
The entire tenement district set including the elevated station was built on the back lot of the United Artists Studio in Hollywood. At the end of the street under the twin staircases that go up to the train station, it can be seen that a huge painted backing is used to extend the street.
With a screenplay by Elmer Rice adapted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, the film takes place on a New York City street from one evening until the following afternoon. Except for one scene which takes place inside a taxi, King Vidor shot the entire film on a single set depicting half a city block of house fronts.