Nancy Welford was initially attached to play the role of “Nanette” in this screen adaptation of the 1925 Broadway musical No, No, Nanette. An item in the 16 March 1929 Motion Picture News noted that Welford had appeared in a West Coast version of the musical “several years ago.” Welford was replaced by Alice White, as announced in the 6 April 1929 Los Angeles Times, which stated that Mervyn LeRoy was under consideration to direct. Later that month, the 24 April 1929 Variety reported that Beatrice Van was at work on the adaptation, continuity, and dialogue. Van was ultimately credited with writing the dialogue, and Howard Emmett Rogers was credited with writing the adaptation.
       On 29 May 1929, a Los Angeles Times news brief stated that First National Pictures, Inc. had decided not to cast Alice White as Nanette, and instead planned to hire a stage actress. Soon after, William Beaudine was brought on to direct, according to the 8 June 1929 Los Angeles Times. Beaudine was replaced by Clarence Badger, who had just signed a long-term contract with First National, as noted in the 27 July 1929 Motion Picture News. A studio production chart in the 24 August 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World cited a 29 July 1929 starting date for No, No, Nanette at First National Studios in Burbank, CA, and the 8 September 1929 Los Angeles Times cited a production budget of $1.5 million. The picture, shot partially in Technicolor, was said to be twice as costly due to the demands of the Technicolor process, which required a “double film” technique in which one camera captured scenes through a green camera filter and another through a red filter. First National reportedly controlled 65% of Technicolor camera equipment at that time, and was leading the transition to color film, with plans to produce all its pictures with at least partial color by February 1930.
       Gertrude Astor was initially cast in the role of “Lucille” but was replaced by Lilyan Tashman, as announced in the 6 August 1929 Film Daily. Daphne Pollard was named as a cast member in the 16 August 1929 Los Angeles Times.
       Some additional songs were added to the movie version of the musical. A 17 July 1929 Variety brief identified the first new song written for the film as “I’ve Got A Complex For You” by Al Myran and Ed Ward.
       The 27 October 1929 Film Daily announced that filming was completed. Prior to the general release on 16 February 1930, No, No, Nanette opened on 3 January 1930 at the Strand Theatre in New York City. The film received positive reviews in the 4 January 1930 New York Times, 12 January 1930 Film Daily, and 8 January 1930 Variety. The latter described it as “42% color” with the remaining 58% of the picture in black-and-white. The Film Daily review identified Frank Mandel as the film editor; however, a correction in the 24 January 1930 Film Daily stated that Peter Fritch was to be given credit as film editor.
       In 1940, RKO produced another adaptation of the 1925 musical, directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle and Richard Carlson (see entry).