Copies of the film were few and rarely shown, until Erich von Stroheim was shown the French copy at the Cinematheque Francaise by Henri Langlois in 1954. Von Stroheim was able to give editing instructions, thanks to which Kevin Brownlow was able to restore this film to the director's cut, using the color segment of the Corpus Christi procession, material found only in the USA version and the copy at the Library of Congress Film Archive, and also restoring it to the 24 fps speed.
Erich von Stroheim supposedly hired real prostitutes and used real champagne for the brothel scene. The sequence was shot at night on a locked stage and minimal instructions were given to George Fawcett and George Nichols.
Erich von Stroheim had a larger project, but shooting was stopped after nine months. He was ordered to make two films of the material: this film and its sequel The Honeymoon (1929). The third part he had planned was never filmed.
Director Erich von Stroheim was renowned for his sadistic tendencies. He made Matthew Betz eat a piece of maggot-infested meat for one scene and deliberately left the camera running until Betz turned pale and started vomiting. Von Stroheim apparently thought this was "funny as hell".
According to author Roy Kinnard, when the original $300,000 budget had ballooned to $1,125,000 after nine months of shooting, producer Pat Powers called a halt to the production.
Erich von Stroheim: [janitor] When Mitzi goes to the church to pray, a janitor is seen removing candle wax from the floor.
Erich von Stroheim: [prostitutes] The marriage between Nikki and Cecilia is arranged by their respective fathers in a high-class brothel, surrounded by exotically-dressed prostitutes.
Erich von Stroheim: [ambulance] Mitzi is carried away in an ambulance after she is injured at the cathedral ceremony.