The scenario was based on the unpublished novel, "Suzanna" by Linton Wells. Principal photography at Mack Sennett Studios in Los Angeles, CA, was underway by 27 November 1921, as stated in that day’s edition of the Los Angeles Times. Location scenes, depicting 1930s California, were to be taken in various parts of the state, and possibly in Mexico City, Mexico. The 25 December 1921 issue credited Sennett with writing Linton’s original story, although other sources indicated that he merely commissioned Linton to write a novel set in colonial California. An item in the 29 December 1921 issue listed cast member Indian Minnie as “Minnie-Ha-Ha.”
       While the 4 February 1922 Exhibitors Herald claimed that production was only interrupted by occasional rainstorms, the 18 March 1922 issue revealed that star Mabel Normand had missed several days of work due to an attack of influenza. Otherwise, work continued at a rapid pace, with many cast and crew members sleeping on or near the studio grounds. The completion of filming was announced in the 29 April 1922 Camera. The 27 January 1923 edition later noted that co-star Eric Mayne worked on the picture for twenty weeks.
       On 14 August 1922, Film Daily announced that a novelization of the scenario by Harry Sinclair Drago was to be published by the Macaulay Co. More than four months later, the 24 January 1923 Los Angeles Times reported that Linton Wells was suing Sennett for $10,000, claiming that the filmmaker commissioned him to write the novel with the promise of screen credit and book royalties. At the time he began work on Suzanna, Wells was a member of Sennett’s scenario department, although the novel was to have been written under a separate agreement. Sennett submitted Wells’s manuscript to the Macaulay Co., but it was declined because the writer was unknown. He then paid Drago, an established author, $1,500 to rewrite the novel, which Wells described as “wholesale plagiarism.” Drago did, however, add a preface and a minor character to the book. Wells introduced as evidence a letter from Sennett guaranteeing “a bonus and the bulk of the royalties” for the novel, along with publicity clippings attributing the published novel to the plaintiff. Sennett was accused of reneging on the deal and intended to fight the lawsuit. Wells went on to a successful career as a foreign correspondent and broadcaster.
       The 2 September 1922 Camera stated that editing of the film was currently underway. An item in the 19 August 1922 Motion Picture News noted that a release was planned for the second half of September 1922 through Associated First National Pictures, Inc. Sennett publicist E. M. Asher arranged a cross-promotional campaign with the Columbia Records release, “Suzanna,” as stated in the 27 October 1922 Film Daily. The campaign also extended to publisher M. Witmark & Sons, which featured Normand’s image on sheet music for the song. In addition, the Shotwell Mfg. Co. marketed a “Suzanna” chocolate bar with scenes from the picture included in the packaging.
       On 30 December 1922, Camera announced that all Sennett pictures were to be released through Allied Producers and Distributors, a subsidiary of United Artists Corp. The 22 January 1923 Film Daily noted that a Spanish-language version of the picture was to be exhibited on a “road show tour” through Latin America. Days later, the 1 February 1923 Variety reported that exhibitors were balking at Allied’s rental fee for the picture, estimated at nearly twice that set by First National.
       Suzanna was released on 15 February 1923, preceded by a 23 December 1922 premiere at the Mission Theatre in Los Angeles, initiating an eight-week run. A New York City debut followed on 25 March 1923 at the Capitol Theatre, attracting “capacity business,” as stated in the 7 April 1923 Moving Picture World.
       According to the Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database, this film is extant.