This film was based on Edith Maude Hull’s serialized novel, The Desert Healer, a sequel to the author’s 1919 best-selling novel, The Shiek. Screen rights to The Desert Healer were acquired by Sam E. Rork through literary broker Viola Foster for $20,000, according to the 14 October 1925 Variety and 14 November 1925 Motion Picture News. The film marked Marion Fairfax’s producing debut, although she had recently supervised production on Clothes Make the Pirate (1925, see entry), also a collaboration with Rork, with whom Fairfax had joined forces after her departure from the scenario department at First National Pictures Inc. An article in the 7 November 1925 Motion Picture News explained that Rork and Fairfax’s producing partnership entailed the use of a single technical crew on alternating productions headed by either Rork or Fairfax, to reduce costs. Fairfax was one of very few female producers active at that time, in addition to Lois Weber, Gene Stratton-Porter, and Lillian Ducey, as noted in the 4 May 1926 Film Daily.
       Nita Naldi was initially attached to play the role of “Lady Elinor Carew,” but was replaced by Katherine MacDonald, as announced in the 10 September 1925 Film Daily and 6 January 1926 Variety. The former also stated that Imperial Pictures had originally planned to produce the film adaptation prior to Fairfax’s involvement. Maurice Tourneur was brought on to direct, following his stint as director on Clothes Make the Pirate. An item in the 1 October 1925 [Fort Worth, TX] Fort Worth Record-Telegram claimed that Blanche Sweet and Mary Astor were considered to play the leading role of “Marny.”
       Principal photography began in early January 1926 at United Studios in Hollywood, CA, and ended in early March 1926, as reported in the 7 March 1926 Los Angeles Times. The film was known by its working title, The Desert Healer, until early April 1926; just prior to theatrical release on 11 April 1926, the 10 April 1926 Moving Picture World announced a “last minute change of title” to Old Loves and New. To capitalize on the book’s popularity, some theaters, including Los Angeles’s Loew’s State Theatre, still advertised the picture as The Desert Healer, as noted in the 23 June 1926 Variety.
       This film marked the acting debut of Ann Rork, daughter of Sam E. Rork.
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included Old Loves and New on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.