This film was highly regarded for its visuals, especially for its cinematography, elaborate sets and special effects. Roland West could only top it by remaking it four years later as The Bat Whispers (1930) with sound and in an early 70mm process.
Filming took place almost entirely at night.
This film was highly regarded for its cinematography and special effects. It was Gregg Toland's first film who served as a camera assistant and as an uncredited second director of photography. It was an auspicious debut and Toland would quickly rise to become one of Hollywood's most respected, and most desired, cinematographers.
Bob Kane, in a documentary called 'The Comic Book Greats' with Stan Lee, stated that this film was one of the inspirations for Batman.
Based on the play "The Bat" by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood that played on Broadway in 1937.