A pre-production HR news item lists the title of the French play on which the film is based as M. Martin. Although onscreen credits refer only to an "original story" by Emmerich Pressburger and René Pujol, the film actually was based on their screenplay for the 1935 French film Monsieur Sans-Gêne, directed by Karl Anton. Ralph Irwin wrote music for both the French and American versions. Only Pressburger's last name appears on the screen. Although HR credits Arnold Pressburger as the screen story writer, biographic sources, as well as modern French film listings, suggest that Emmerich Pressburger was the true author. Pickford-Lasky Productions made its debut with this film. According to publicity, the interior of the famous Palais de Glace in Paris was reproduced in Hollywood studios for this film. Five thousand feet of synthetic, "hyposulphate" ice combined with twenty secret ingredients were boiled and hardened for twelve hours to create a noiseless skating surface. This film marked Francis Lederer's first starring role for United Artists. HR announced that Morrie Ryskind would be writing lyrics for the film, and he is listed as lyricist in early HR production charts, but his contribution to final film has not been confirmed. Production charts also include Mariska Aldrich and Ariane Borg in the cast, but no other source verifies their participation in the film. An anonymous contemporary source lists Edward Everett Horton in the cast, but that actor was not seen in the viewed print. An ad for this film calls Erik Rhodes' character "Count Alfredo Di Pignacelli Di Rostaganni." Seger Ellis and Margaret Warner appeared in the film-within-the-film. An ad in HR contains one page of thank-you's for studio executives who allowed stars under contract to them to appear in this film. The ad promises: "We are returning these artists to you with increased box office value." A modern filmography of director Rowland V. Lee states that he contributed to the film's screenplay.