Footage of the dam being built is from the construction of the St. Francis Dam in Los Angeles County. The dam was completed in May 1926; it failed March 12, 1928, killing over 430 people.
Mauritz Stiller was fired after 10 days of production and replaced with Fred Niblo. While the footage Stiller shot appears to be lost, stills have survived from his time as director on the project.
After MGM boss Louis B. Mayer saw the film, he ordered a "happier" ending to be filmed. Theaters then had the choice of showing which one they thought their audiences would prefer.