Robert Donat made his only trip to Hollywood during the production of this film. Due mainly to his poor health, he was unable to travel to Hollywood again to film any of his other roles.
This was the third film producer Edward Small made for United Artists. Fredric March was the original choice for the title role. Eventually Robert Donat was cast under an international star loan agreement negotiated by Joseph M. Schenck of United Artists.
Das Rätsel von Monte Christo (1934) was based on the 1844 French novel "The Count of Monte Cristo" by [link=nm0241416, the story concerns a man who is unjustly imprisoned for 20 years for innocently delivering a letter entrusted to him. When he finally escapes, he seeks revenge against the greedy men who conspired to put him in prison. This is the first sound film adaptation of Dumas' novel; five silent films preceded it.
The location substituting for Elba where Napoleon was gazing out to sea is The Lone Cypress on 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, Monterey County.