Gloria Stuart later admitted to Gregory William Mank that co-star Raul Roulien was the "most unfavorite actor" that she had ever worked with: Raul "was addicted to garlic and red wine, and song. So I'm standing there, day in, day out, learning 'Tonight' with a singer who has a yen for garlic and red wine. It was just ghastly. Sorry, Raul!"
Long considered a lost film, the Museum of Modern Art in New York restored a unique nitrate print from its collection. The film was screened for the public in July 2017.
Fox meant for this film to make Raul Roulien a musical comedy star in the vein of Maurice Chevalier.
Sammy White also choreographed the original 1927 stage production of "Show Boat" as well as the 1932 revival. Edna May Oliver, who appears in this film, played Parthy, the Captain's wife, in both productions.