Assistant director Nat G. Deverich was almost killed during the scene showing the destruction of a ship at sea, which was filmed off the coast of Monterey, CA, and was not--as was reported in the press at the time--a miniature shot in a tank at the studio.
Mary Pickford insisted that her best friend Frances Marion be not only the writer but also the director of this film.
In November of 1919, Frances Marion married Fred Thomson in New York. Mary Pickford--who had introduced Fred to Marion--was the maid of honor. Frances and John left for a European honeymoon. Shortly, thereafter, Pickford married Douglas Fairbanks and they joined Frances and Fred while they were still in Europe. It is here that Frances told Mary the story she heard in Italy that became the basis for this picture. Pickford said it was the next movie she wanted to do.