The 23 November 1917 Variety and the 8 December 1917 Motion Picture News reported, "The old Garden theatre at Twenty-seventh street and Madison avenue, New York, the scene of many stage successes of a decade ago, was used recently for the staging of scenes in Ethel Barrymore's forthcoming Metro wonderplay, An American Widow, under the direction of Frank Reicher. This story called for scenes showing the premiere of a comedy success of the stage with a capacity first night audience, and the presence of the author and his wife in a lower box. Scenes were also taken of a panic of the audience at the supposed call of 'fire.' For the photographing of these various scenes in the theater, a score of high powered studio lights were installed by Frank Detering, Metro Electrical Director, and his staff." These were used for various lighting effects, including one showing the gradual darkening of the theater as the curtain was lowered, as well as the sudden rise of lights at intermission.
       According to the 15 December 1917 Motion Picture News, Metro announced the previous week that Ethel Barrymore had completed her work in An American Widow. She was available for filming only in the evening, because her days were given over to rehearsing for an uncoming Broadway presentation of Camille. Arthur Lewis, another actor in the film, was also working with her in the play. "Director [Frank] Reicher had no difficulty...in securing the hearty co-operation of the other players, cameramen and assistants, in order to enable Miss Barrymore to complete the production of An American Widow ahead of schedule. As a result, the picture will be released December 17, a week ahead of the time originally announced for it."
       Exhibitors Trade Review and Variety credited George Webber as cinematographer, but the 1918 MPSD credited William H. Tuers.
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.