Screenwriter Joseph L. Mankiewicz originally developed this story as a vehicle for The Marx Brothers, but they turned it down.
Costar Susan Fleming - who plays Angela - later married comic Harpo Marx and retired from acting. The Marx's marriage was a famously happy and successful one, from 28 September 1936, lasting to Harpo's death at age 75 on 28 September 1964.
The release of this film in July of 1932 was timed to coincide with the Los Angeles Olympics, which began three weeks later.
According to Joseph L. Mankiewicz, star W.C. Fields was "not a nice man," and Paramount gave into his demand that he be allowed to purchase all his dialogue from the film for 50 cents.
Writer Joseph L. Mankiewicz was inspired to write this film by the wild events of the 1928 Olympic games held in Amsterdam, particularly by an Albanian pole-vaulter who took to the field wearing a pair of goatskin shorts.