When this was filmed Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was 24, and Colleen Moore and Genevieve Tobin were both 34.
Based on the play "Success Story," by John Howard Lawson that opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA at Maxine Elliott's Theatre, 109 W. 39th St. on 26 September 1932 and closed in January 1933 after 121 performances. The opening night cast included Stella Adler as Sarah, Franchot Tone as Raymond, Luther Adler and Morris Carnovsky.
A contemporary article in Film Daily announced RKO had bought the film rights to the play as a vehicle to co-star William Gargan and Wynne Gibson.
Merritt mentions he gives Agnes $1,000 per month. That amount equates to over $23,800 per month in 2025.