Pierre Chenal initially worked on the screenplay with writer Armand Salacrou but the two men failed to agree on the mood and style envisaged by the director. Chenal engaged instead the distinguished poet and playwright Roger Vitrac. Salacrou's name remained in the credits while Vitrac's appeared only as additional dialogue writer.
Enrico Glori is the only actor to play in both French and Italian versions. Whilst he has an important role in the Italian version (as Count Papiano), he is only on screen for 10 seconds (as a barber) in the French one.
Pirandello visited the studios and attended the filming of a few scenes. But he died in December 1936 before the film was completed.