King Vidor had been hoping to make the film for several years, and jumped at the chance to make it with the advent of sound. He so wanted to produce the picture that he offered to give up his salary.
Although this film is frequently touted as the first black-cast film produced in Hollywood, it is actually predated by the more obscure Hearts in Dixie.
An advertising poster for this film is pictured on one stamp of a set of five 42ยข USA commemorative postage stamps honoring Vintage Black Cinema, issued 16 July 2008. Other films honored in this set are Black and Tan, The Sport of the Gods, Princesse Tam Tam, and Caldonia.
Presently available version, as broadcast on Turner Classic Movies, is the re-edited 100 minute 1939 re-release, with redesigned opening and closing credits.
This was King Vidor's first sound film.