Dwain Esper unsuccessfully sued a distribution company in the 1960s over the film rights, claiming that he had produced the film for the U.S. Army, and that he was the legal copyright owner. However, he was unable to support his claims, and lost the case.
A special-edition DVD of the film was released in 2004, with an outrageously non-realistic colorization (the various characters who smoke all exhale brightly colored pastel smoke) and a satirical commentary track by Michael J. Nelson of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Although produced as a serious anti-drug exploitation film, it became a cult comedy hit during the late 1960s and 1970s. It was one of the earliest hits during the golden age of the "midnight movie" in which theaters, especially those near colleges, would run the film at special screenings late at night during weekends.
Stars Dorothy Short (Mary) and Dave O'Brien (Ralph) were married the year this film was released (1936).
The advertising billboard in the speeding car scene is for Pabst's Blue Ribbon Beer, which reads "The right note, PABST"
The movie theater marquee reading "Terry Rooney in 'Any Old Love'", is a standing set from the picture Something to Sing About.
The newspaper prop with the sub-headline "DICK TRACY, G-MAN, IN SENSATIONAL RAID" was later used in the Republic serial Dick Tracy Returns.
The origins of this film have been the subject of controversy for years. Some say it was produced by a church group, while others insist that it was made for the army.