Tony tells Vicki that he's been going to the movies quite a lot recently, and there the women are quite different: "They get pushed in the face with grapefruit and they love it." This is a reference to The Public Enemy (1931) with James Cagney, who famously shoved half a grapefruit into Mae Clarke's face. Joan Blondell also was in that film, so this apparently is an inside joke.
This film was released 42 days before the requirement of a certificate of approval by the Production Code Administration for all films went into effect.
According to contemporary articles in The Hollywood Reporter, Bette Davis, Ricardo Cortez, and Lyle Talbot were assigned roles in this film at one point.
Smarty (1934), known in the United Kingdom as "Hit Me Again," is an American Pre-Code comedy film directed by Robert Florey and starring Warren William and Joan Blondell. It was adapted from F. Hugh Herbert's play by Carl Erickson (writer).
The play opened first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA on 1 October 1927. It was retitled "Funny Face" for its New York run off-Broadway beginning 22 November 1927.