The upcoming starring vehicle for actor William S. Hart was announced in the 1 Jan 1916 Motion Picture News and 15 Jan 1916 issues of Motography. Both revealed that a Western town, comprised of thirty-eight buildings, was constructed at Thomas Ince Studios in Culver City, CA, and later burned for the film’s climactic sequence. The 25 Mar 1916 Motography claimed that several members of the company narrowly avoided injury during the fire. The town was said to be modeled on the once notorious Virginia City, NV. Three weeks earlier, however, the 4 Mar 1916 edition stated that the town was based on Place Center, OK, known locally as “Hell’s Hinges.” A photograph in the 29 Jan 1916 Motography showed Hart on location in Northern California, although the name of the production was not specified. Victor L. Schertzinger was credited in the 18 Mar 1916 Motography with writing a musical score for the film. Various sources have credited Mon Randall with the art titles, and indicated that Hart acted as co-director, with Ince either directing or closely monitoring, the fire sequence.
       Hell’s Hinges debuted at the Knickerbocker Theatre in New York City on either 3 or 4 Mar 1916, according to the 12 Feb 1916 Moving Picture World. The 11 Mar 1916 issue stated that a general release had been planned for 20 Feb 1916, but was postponed until 5 Mar 1916. The film garnered a positive review in the 5 Feb 1916 Moving Picture World, although the critic suggested that Hart might try portraying other characters besides reformed outlaws. In a letter to the 15 Jul 1916 Motography, one exhibitor attributed much of the film’s appeal to its provocative title.
       According to the Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database, this film is extant and widely available. A 56-minute copy of Hell's Hinges was screened at the Kansas Silent Film Festival in Topeka, KS, on 1 March 2003.