The catfight scene was shot only once, and could only be shot once because there were no duplicate costumes or props on hand.
Gloria Swanson fought Paramount to make this film after a series of "clothes horse" pictures. She felt she was being stereotyped. The film was a big success.
The original Broadway production of "Zaza" by David Belasco (from the play by Pierre Berton and Charles Simon) opened at the Garrick Theater on January 9, 1899.
On the pretext of needing an operation, Gloria Swanson went to New York to make this film. Swanson hoped to distance herself from Jesse Lasky, Paramount's head, and take more control over her career with this film.
A copy of this film resides at the Eastman House in Rochester, NY.
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