The close-up of Alfred Butler's hands as he opens the box with the wedding ring inside was shot with a hand double, since Buster Keaton was missing the tip of his right index finger.
Of all the great dramatic films in history, it was this film that was one of Martin Scorsese's biggest inspirations in getting the "feel" of the boxing scenes in Raging Bull (1980) just right, particularly (and most likely) from Buster Keaton's surprisingly realistic, climactic fight. As quoted in the book "Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull" edited by Kevin J. Hayes (Cambridge University Press, 2005), Scorsese called Keaton "the only person who had the right attitude about boxing in the movies" for him.
Released in the same year as what is considered to be Buster Keaton's finest film: The General (1926). Ironically, while this film attracted less than glowing notices, it became Keaton's second biggest hit, while "The General"was a monumental flop.
A rare example of a Buster Keaton movie being based on a stage play. The original ran for 313 performances on Broadway, opening at the Selwyn Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St. on October 8, 1923 and moving to the Times Square Theatre on April 21, 1924 with Charles Ruggles playing the lead.
Buster Keaton's personal favorite movie of his own.
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