Originally planned as a vehicle for Jeanette MacDonald 10 years earlier, but the somewhat racy content put the musical on hold at MGM, until it was a hit on Broadway in 1938.
Because the Hays Code had taken effect in the years since this project was first suggested to MGM, the show's risqué content (the idea of an angel marrying a mortal) had to be considerably toned down for the film. They called it "blasphemous and sacrilegious." It took a further four years re-writing the script, turning the angel marriage into a dream, to get past the film censors.
The musical play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 11 May 1938 and closed 25 February 1939 after 338 performances. The opening cast included Dennis King, Vivienne Segal, Walter Slezak, Vera Zorina, Audrey Christie and Charles Walters.
According to an article in the old "Silver Screen" magazine there were several sets of wings made for this picture. One set, the ones Jeanette MacDonald wore when she first appeared as an angel were articulated so that they would fold. They cost the then-astronomical price of $15,000 (about $100,000 in present day's dollars). The others were simpler and cost about $4000 apiece. Jeanette complained about them saying that they were heavy and very uncomfortable to wear.