Joan Crawford loaned her make-up man, hairdresser and an Adrian gown to Gail Patrick for her screen test. When Patrick got the role and tried to thank Crawford, she wouldn't hear of it, saying only, "People helped me when I started out."
George Cukor took over as director when Edward H. Griffith fell ill, but refused an onscreen co-director credit.
The play opened in New York City, New York, USA on 23 January 1934 and had 176 performances. In the cast were Melvyn Douglas and Lucile Watson.
Rachel Crothers, who adapted the play for the screen, complained bitterly in an article about her work being butchered by producers and directors. MGM removed her credit from the film at her request. Crothers went on to work with Samuel Goldwyn, who, she claimed, was the only producer in Hollywood who treated writers with respect.