Josef von Sternberg was called in by Paramount to reshoot some scenes, shoot new scenes and recut the existing footage after executives made the determination that the film was not releasable.
James Hall was originally chosen to play the male lead, but the role was given to Gary Cooper at the insistence of star Clara Bow. The role helped to propel Cooper towards superstardom.
Clara Bow was dating Gary Cooper at the time this film was being made. According to Esther Ralston, Bow scandalized her cast members with disclosures of their nightly sexual escapades. Ralston said she was among those who were shocked by these disclosures, but was quick to add that she (and everyone else) loved working with Bow.
Victor Fleming called Clara Bow's death scene (re-shot by Josef von Sternberg the greatest on film to that point.
Reportedly, Gary Cooper was dismissed from the film by the director for failing to get a scene right with star Clara Bow. Bow intervened and Cooper was reinstated after one day's absence.