Although the film was completed in 1913, Biograph delayed its release until 1914, after D. W. Griffith left the company, so that it would not have to pay him in a profit-sharing agreement they had.
"Judith of Bethulia" was Biograph's last film of any importance. When D. W. Griffith left he took its star actors and other key personnel with him, and the studio could not build a new talent roster from scratch. Furthermore its deal with theatre syndicate Klaw & Erlanger to produce feature versions of their plays was greeted with indifference by the public. After 1915 Biograph stopped making new movies and got by on reissues and leasing its facilities to other filmmakers. The company ceased all operations in 1918. Biograph's chief creditor, the Empire Trust Company, retained the Bronx studio until they sold it to Herbert J. Yates in 1928.
This was altered in 1917 without D.W.G.'s input, adding unused scenes and removing the filmed cast introductions (considered old fashioned by then). This Biography re-issue (with white titles instead of the usual black) was originally 6 reels, but surviving prints are only 5 reels.
Biograph was infuriated by the $35,500 production price tag and restricted D.W.G. to shorter films, causing D.W.G. to leave the Biograph Company in October 1913.
The original Broadway production of "Judith of Bethulia" by Thomas Bailey Aldrich opened at Daly's Theatre on December 5, 1904 and ran for 16 performances.