"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie onMarch 7, 1938 with W.C. Fields reprising his film role.
W.C. Fields broke a vertebra during the filming and was in such pain that he fainted after walking out of camera range after filming the final scene.
Because of Fields' poor health during the filming of Poppy, Johnny Sinclair, his stunt double, in a plastic mask did all of his long shots and many of the shots in which Fields had to move quickly, crawl, etc. In fact, it is estimated that Sinclair did 75% of Fields' shots with Field's himself doing only 25%. Stills of Sinclair standing in for Fields were "embargoed" by the producers, but it is rumored that a few sneaked out of the studio.
Because of Fields' poor health during the filming of Poppy, Johnny Sinclair, his stunt double, in a plastic mask did all of his long shots. Stills of Sinclair standing in for Fields were "embargoed" by the producers, but it is rumored that a few sneaked out of the studio.
Last film of Tammany Young, who died of a heart attack shortly before filming ended.
Many cast members in studio records/casting call lists for this movie were not seen in the final print. These were (with their character names, if any): Tom Herbert, Cyril Ring, Jack Baxley, Harry Wagner, Frank Sully, Eddy Waller and Dell Henderson (Yokels), Gertrude Sutton (First Woman Gossip), Grace Goodall (Second Woman Gossip), Ada Mae Moore (Snake Charmer) and Nora Cecil.
One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.
Prof. Eustace McGargle was W.C. Fields' most frequently performed role, having played it for 328 performances on Broadway in 1923 and in the silent movie Sally of the Sawdust before making this film version.
The musical play, "Poppy," opened at the Apollo Theater in New York on 3 September 1923 and closed on 28 June 1924 after 346 performances. W.C. Fields originated his movie role in the play; Madge Kennedy was also in the opening night cast as "Poppy." None of the songs from the musical was used in the movie.