Director F.W. Murnau wanted the title of the film to be "Our Daily Bread", but the studio refused. In addition, the film, which had been shot silent, was scheduled by the studio to have parts of it reshot with sound. Murnau refused, wanting nothing to do with "talkies", and after this and other clashes with the studio he left the picture before it was completed. An assistant director finished it.
The film is based on the play "The Mud Turtle" by Elliott Lester that opened at the Bijou Theatre on August 20, 1925 and ran for 52 performances.