The 3 Dec 1965 LAT announced that veteran actress Gene Tierney would star in the upcoming Bert I. Gordon production, provisionally titled Color Mommy Dead. Filming was scheduled to begin the following month at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA. According to the 31 Dec 1965 LAT, Gordon auditioned eighty young actresses before assigning the role of “Susan Shelly” to his daughter, Susan Gordon. The picture was referred to by its official title, Picture Mommy Dead. The 19 Jan 1966 DV reported that Hedy Lamarr was cast in a featured role, marking her return to the screen after an eight-year absence. Gordon stated that Gene Tierney was replaced by Martha Hyer after her character “was changed to a different type.” Principal photography began 24 Jan 1966, according to 28 Jan 1966 DV production charts.
       On 29 Jan 1966, NYT revealed that Lamarr had been arrested two days earlier for shoplifting at the May Company, a Los Angeles, CA, department store. At a press conference held the day after her arrest, Lamarr denied the charges and showed reporters two crumpled checks totaling $14,000, signed by an unidentified film producer, claiming them as evidence that she had no need to shoplift. On 4 Feb 1966, DV announced that Zsa Zsa Gabor was replacing Lamarr, after the latter failed to report to work the previous day, claiming “nervous exhaustion.” Location filming was underway at the Doheny Estate, also known as Greystone Mansion, an historic landmark in Beverly Hills, CA. The 8 Feb 1966 LAT noted that shooting at the estate would be completed within five weeks. Several of the fifty-five rooms were redecorated using furnishings from the Paramount prop department, many of which were purchased from the New York City warehouse of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst.
       Picture Mommy Dead opened 2 Nov 1966 in New York City to negative reviews. It was released the following month in Los Angeles and did poorly at the box office, according to the 20 Dec 1966 DV.