The women courtiers are played by men in drag.
In addition to producing, writing, and actually directing, Nazimova also financed the film herself. Its total failure (both domestic and overseas) left her broke.
Oscar Wilde wrote the original play in French in 1891. An English translation was made and was in rehearsal in 1894, but was banned by officials on the basis that it was illegal to depict Biblical characters on the stage. Its first live performance was in Paris, France in 1896 (Wilde was jailed from 1895 to 1897). It was not performed in England until 1931.
Oscar Wilde wrote the play in French. Lord Alfred Douglas then translated it into English.
Forty year old Alla Nazimova played the part of the teenager Salomé. Rose Dione, who plays the role of Salomé's mother, was less than four years older than Nazimova.