The scenario was based on Arnold Bennett’s 1908 novel, Buried Alive: a Tale of These Days, and his 1913 play, The Great Adventure, a Play of Fancy in Four Acts. This film marked the second screen version of Bennett’s novel, and the third in a series of four Lionel Barrymore starring vehicles for Whitman Bennett Productions. Scenarist Dorothy Farnum was loaned to Bennett by producer Joseph M. Schenck, who was currently visiting Europe, as stated in the 28 August 1920 Wid’s Daily. The impending start of principal photography was announced in the 16 October 1920 Motion Picture News. Research concerning other contemporary Bennett productions has indicated that filming likely took place at Triangle Studios in Yonkers, NY.
       According to the 20 November 1920 Exhibitors Herald, the picture featured “four reproductions of historic places,” including four sections of Westminster Abbey in London, England. Location scenes were filmed at the New York Institute for the Blind in New York City. The 22 January 1921 Motion Picture News later revealed that lead actress Katherine Stewart was chosen for her role after a chance meeting with Bennett in a restaurant. An item in the June 1921 Picture-Play credited Roy Webb as art director and held him responsible for decorating one set with a remarkably ugly sofa. Despite its appearance, the sofa was purchased by Lionel Barrymore, who found it to be quite comfortable. Various sources credited T. L. Griffith as co-director of photography, while the 1 November 1921 American Cinematographer listed his name as “Charles Griffith.” The close of production was announced in the 18 December 1920 Exhibitors Herald.
       The Great Adventure was released in early January 1921, with openings during the week of 9 January 1921 at the Strand Theatre in New York City and at the Madison Theatre in Detroit, MI. A Los Angeles, CA, opening followed during the week of 10 April 1921 at the Ambassador Theatre.
       Two other versions of Arnold Bennett’s story were produced for the screen. One, also titled The Great Adventure, was made in England in 1916 by Florence Turner Productions, and another, titled Holy Matrimony, was released by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. in 1943 (see entry). An unrelated picture, known as The Great Adventure, was released in 1918 by Pathé (see entry).
       According to the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) Treasures from the Film Archives database, this film is extant.