The film is based in Zola's novel about the real-life story of Nana Coupeau's rise from streetwalker to high-class prostitute. She had an abusive father and, contrary to the film, she died of smallpox.
Producer Samuel Goldwyn hoped that this film would launch actress Anna Sten as "the next Greta Garbo." In spite of the doubling of the film's budget, however, it was a flop.