"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on October 6, 1940 with Clark Gable reprising his film role.
Greta Garbo was originally cast as Vantine. But when the script underwent drastic re-writes, the role was recast with Jean Harlow.
Jean Harlow's husband of two months, producer Paul Bern, committed suicide during the Labor Day break in the production. Although she was absent for 10 days following his death, scenes were shot around her and the movie was completed on schedule.
After the suicide of her husband Paul Bern, which occurred during filming, most of Jean Harlow's scenes were re-shot, with higher neck-lines on her dresses.
During filming of the famous rainbarrel sequence, Jean Harlow reportedly stood up - topless - and called out something along the lines of "one for the boys in the lab!" Director Victor Fleming quickly removed the film from the camera to prevent any footage from reaching the black market.
The original play first opened in New York on 2 January 1928.