The 20 May 1927 Motion Picture News announced the provisionally titled Louisiana as the next “special” production by director George Fitzmaurice. The screenplay was based on the play, The Barber of New Orleans by Edward Childs Carpenter, which he adapted from his novel, The Code of Victor Jallot. John McCormick was credited as producer, and the screen adaptation was attributed to Bess Meredyth. She was ultimately replaced by Benjamin Glazer. Principal photography was scheduled to begin in mid-Aug 1927, as stated in the 5 Aug 1927 Motion Picture News. Sixteen days later, the 21 Aug 1927 Film Daily announced that lead actress Billie Dove was traveling from Chicago, IL, to California for the start of production. Principal photography was underway as of 12 Sep 1927, as noted in that day’s Film Daily.
       The 30 Sep 1927 Motion Picture News listed Mary Astor as a cast member, although she is not mentioned in other available sources. Location filming took place at Henneme Beach in Oxnard, CA, according to the 14 Oct 1927 Motion Picture News. Joining the cast were George Bunny, George Stone, and Paul Vincenti. Various sources have also included Richard Cramer, George Kotsonaros, Oliver Eckhardt, and Constantine Romanoff.
       Released as The Love Mart, the film may have premiered simultaneously on 3 Dec 1927 at the Granada Theatre in San Francisco, CA, and at Loew’s State Theatre in Los Angeles, CA; a review in the 7 Dec 1927 Var claimed that the Los Angeles debut occurred one day earlier. The picture went into general release on 18 Dec 1927, followed by a New York City opening the next week. Reviews were mixed: While some critics were impressed with both the cast and the screenplay, others complained of the picture’s slow pace. Several commended Billie Dove, who had previously been known more for her beauty than for her acting.