Only one copy of the film is known to have survived. It was long thought lost before being located in Howard Hughes' film collection after his death. The film was restored and preserved by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas film department. The restored copy is frequently shown on Turner Classic Movies in the US.
At the party Scarsi insists McQuigg attend, one of the orchestra members can be seen playing what appears to be a stringed instrument with a horn attached. It is a Stroh violin, or Stroviol, invented in 1899 by John Matthias Augustus Stroh, and electrical engineer in London. These, and similar, instruments were common in the days of acoustic-mechanical phonographic recordings, but became almost obsolete with the advent of electric microphone recordings.
The play opened on Broadway in New York City at the Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St., on 22 November 1927 and closed in March 1928 after 119 performances. The opening night cast included Edward G. Robinson, Romaine Callender, G. Pat Collins (who is also in the movie), Norman Foster, Hugh O'Connell and Willard Robertson. The setting of the play is Chicago.
One of only three films to receive an Oscar® nomination for Best Production. After the first year of the Academy Awards®, the Best Production and Best Unique and Artistic Picture categories was consolidated into the single prestigious Best Picture category.
Received only one Oscar® nomination, for Outstanding Picture, the precursor of the Best Picture award.