Only one copy of the film is known to have survived. It was long thought lost before being located in Howard Hughes' film collection after his death. The film was restored and preserved by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas film department. The restored copy is frequently shown on Turner Classic Movies in the US.
The play opened on Broadway in New York City at the Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St., on 22 November 1927 and closed in March 1928 after 119 performances. The opening night cast included Edward G. Robinson, Romaine Callender, G. Pat Collins (who is also in the movie), Norman Foster, Hugh O'Connell and Willard Robertson. The setting of the play is Chicago.
When his editor calls him, Miller is reading The American Mercury magazine. At the time it was a high-brow literary and critical publication, that featured the works of the likes of W.E.B. Du Bois, Sinclair Lewis, Carl Sandburg, and Eugene O'Neill in the 1920s and 1930s.
One of only three films to receive an Oscar® nomination for Best Production. After the first year of the Academy Awards®, the Best Production and Best Unique and Artistic Picture categories was consolidated into the single prestigious Best Picture category.