Irving Thalberg, the film's producer and husband of the film's star, Norma Shearer, had a camera crew film the first act of the play in New York with Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, so the cast of the film could study the performances given by the play's actors to see the timing for laughs and emulate them as much as possible. It is rumored, however, that the film was destroyed immediately after its viewing by the cast of the movie, and it has not been heard of or found since.
Glacier National Park in Montana doubled for the Swiss Alps in the film's mountain climbing scene.
In the 1930s the word "God" was not to be used trivially in the movies. Thus, the line in the film regarding a cigarette was changed from, "For God's sake give me one," to "Give me one for the love of heaven."
According to Coward biographer Cole Lesley, the playwright was pleased with the outcome and described the leading performers as "perfectly charming". The film's critical acclaim and financial success proved instrumental in helping Coward sell the film rights to several other plays.
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