Madame Mandilip's special dolls are costumed as members of vicious street gangs known as the Apache (pronounced ah-PAHSH), who were involved in theft, prostitution, and the occasional murder in pre-World War I Paris. The dolls even perform the Apache dance popularized by the gangs, in which extremely close steps alternate with seemingly brutal punches, kicks, hair-pulling, spins, and throws; it was usually danced to the Valse des rayons (aka Valse chaloupée) composed by Jacques Offenbach. In the 1930s and 1940s, this dance was still performed by professional dancers and can be seen in several films and even cartoons of the period.
Malita is made up as reminiscent of two famous horror supporting characters. She's slightly hunchbacked as was Dr. Frankenstein's Fritz in Frankenstein (1931), and has a white streak in her hair similar to the title character in La Fiancée de Frankenstein (1935). Further, her facial makeup gives her a rather deathly appearance not unlike a vampire, Tod Browning who directed Dracula (1931).
The contemporary reviewer in Variety noted the similarity between this film and Le club des 3 (1925), where the main character disguises himself as an elderly woman shop owner. This similarly is also acknowledged in the original trailer for the film. Both pictures were directed by Tod Browning.
The main theme music was later used by its uncredited composer, Bronislau Kaper, as the basis for Greta Garbo's rumba, "Chica-Choca", in La femme aux deux visages (1941).
Last completed film of Henry B. Walthall. He died on June 17, 1936 while working on Courrier de Chine (1936). In that film, the script was re-written to have his character die off-screen.