Adapted from a Broadway play by Zoe Akins, "The Greeks Had a Word for It". Since it dealt with a group of modern-day courtesans, the title was on the Hays Office banned list. Therefore, the last word in the title was changed to "Them". The original Broadway production opened at the Sam H. Harris Theater on September 25, 1930 Theater and ran for 253 performances.
The studio originally wanted Jean Harlow for this film, after her success in Red-Headed Woman, but she was under contract to Howard Hughes and he refused to loan her out.