The scenario was based on the 1918 novel, The Magic Life by May Edginton, published earlier that year in Ainslee's magazine. The upcoming screen version was announced in the 28 August 1920 Wid’s Daily under the same title as the novel. Production began in September 1920 at Thomas H. Ince Studios in Culver City, CA, as stated in the 4 September 1920 Motion Picture News and the 23 September 1920 Wid’s Daily. The 2 October 1920 Camera noted that the picture was the second for which lead actress Florence Vidor had been loaned to Ince by her husband, director-producer King Vidor.
       One week later, the 9 October 1920 Moving Picture World reported that scenes depicting a Canadian blizzard and an English fox hunt had been completed. The latter required the importation of a “pack of hounds” from San Francisco, CA. Lying Lips was announced as the picture’s official title in the 13 November 1920 Camera. The source novel was incorrectly referred to as The Novel Life.
       Articles in the 6 November 1920, 13 November 1920, and 18 December 1920 issues of Exhibitors Herald, and the 4 December 1920 Moving Picture World, recounted the filming of a shipwreck sequence in early November 1920 at the harbor of San Pedro, CA. Photography took place aboard the S. S. Governor, and included a scene of a “stampeding mob” trying to escape in lifeboats. The several hundred background actors were said to have feared for their safety as the boats were lowered unevenly toward the water. An “enormous hulk” was constructed in the harbor, which was destroyed on 8 November 1920 by the U.S. Navy battleship, Minneapolis. That night, Ince temporarily took over direction from John Griffith Wray, staging a storm sequence with the help of wind machines, lightning projectors, and a fleet of fireboats. Another scene, filmed at the studio, depicted a shipboard dance, featuring “King Neptune and his court of alluring mermaids and water nymphs.” Ince reportedly shared directorial duties with Wray through the final days of production. The February 1921 Picture-Play estimated that the water scenes were completed over the course of a week. Ince announced the close of principal photography in the 22 November 1920 Wid’s Daily. A national publicity campaign had already begun earlier that month. One week later, the 29 November 1920 edition reported that publicist and future filmmaker Hunt Stromberg planned to embark on a promotional tour for the picture, beginning 25 December 1920.
       Lying Lips was released on 30 January 1921, followed by openings on 31 January 1921 at the Rialto Theatre in Providence, RI; on 22 February 1921 at the Symphony Theatre in Los Angeles, CA; and on 6 March at the Capitol Theatre in New York City. The 26 February 1921 Camera noted that the Los Angeles engagement featured orchestral and organ renditions of a theme song named after the picture, composed by King Vidor and Verne Elliott. Florence and King Vidor attended the New York City debut, as reported in the 26 March 1921 issue. The 19 February 1921 Motion Picture News stated that the Providence opening set a new box-office record for the Rialto.
       On 4 April 1921, Wid’s Daily reported that Fred B. Warren, former general manager of distributor Associated Producers, was suing the company for $100,000 in unpaid remunerations. Warren’s evidence revealed that during the week of 13 March 1921, Lying Lips earned $270,096.20.
       The scenario was adapted as a short story by Janet Reid for the March 1921 Motion Picture.
       Two unrelated films, also titled Lying Lips, were released in 1916 by Mutual Film Corp., and in 1939 by Sack Amusement Enterprises, Inc.
       According to the Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database, a portion of this film is extant.