Laura's overdue hotel bill of $62.50 would equate to over $1,200 in 2022.
After the first film of the scandalous play was made in 1917 (The Easiest Way (1917)), several studios were interested in a re-make, including First National, Universal, Pathé, and Columbia, but all were warned away by the Hays Office. Finally MGM under Irving Thalberg bought the rights in 1930 and made the picture, despite the Hays Office stating the film was "much more dangerous than the original play", which itself was called "dangerous motion picture material". They thought Laura was not punished enough for her immorality. However, enforcement of the Production Code did not occur until 1934.
This film was a success at the box office, earning MGM a profit of $193,000 (about $3.76M in 2022) according to studio records.
The $23/week Laura earns as a model would equate to about $450 in 2022.
The original play opened on Broadway in New York City at the Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St., on 19 December 1909 and ran for 157 performances. A revival in 1921 ran for 63 performances.