Originally planned as a vehicle for Jeanette MacDonald 10 years earlier, but the somewhat racy content put the musical on hold at MGM, until it was a hit on Broadway in 1938.
Because the Hays Code had taken effect in the years since this project was first suggested to MGM, the show's risqué content (the idea of an angel having sex with a mortal) had to be considerably toned down for the film.
This film's initial USA telecast took place in Seattle Friday 21 December 1956 on KING (Channel 5); it first aired in Chicago Friday 18 January 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), in Portland OR 4 February 1957 on KGW (Channel 8), in Philadelphia 9 March 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6), in Hartford CT 17 March 1957 on WHCT (Channel 18), in New Haven CT 19 March 1957 on WNHC (Channel 8), in Altoona PA 27 March 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), in Minneapolis 28 June 1957 on KMGM (Channel 9), and in Los Angeles 3 October 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11); it was first telecast in San Francisco 5 November 1958 on KGO (Channel 7), and in New York City 23 December 1960 on WCBS (Channel 2).
The musical play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 11 May 1938 and closed 25 February 1939 after 338 performances. The opening cast included Dennis King, Vivienne Segal, Walter Slezak, Vera Zorina, Audrey Christie and Charles Walters.
Director Roy Del Ruth was replaced by W.S. Van Dyke on 4 November 1941, after several weeks of production.