Norman Taurog was the uncredited director of the retakes. Subsequently, he would oversee MGM's 1943 version starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Providing new choreography for the "I Got Rhythm" retake with Kitty Kelly in 1932 was Busby Berkeley (also uncredited), who then would stage the Mickey-Judy number 11 years later. Originally tapped to direct, Mr. Berkeley was taken off the Metro production when Roger Edens expressed unhappiness with Mr. Berkeley's "I Got Rhythm" treatment, which Mr. Edens felt overloaded his arrangement. In addition, Miss Garland had complained that Mr. Berkeley's demanding work technique had exhausted her.
Adapted from a Broadway stage musical, "Girl Crazy" opened on October 14, 1930 at the Alvin Theater in New York (now known as the Neil Simon Theatre) and ran for 272 performances. Ginger Rogers starred, and Ethel Merman, in a supporting role, introduced her first trademark song, "I Got Rhythm."