Red-Headed Woman - Production

Production

The film proved difficult from its inception. Producer Irving Thalberg was concerned that the original story and the first draft of a script by F. Scott Fitzgerald were too serious, and offered the job of rewriting it to Anita Loos, instructing her to provide something that was more fun and playful and with a greater emphasis on comedy.

Before Harlow, MGM wanted Clara Bow, who agreed to do the part, but objected to the "future services" option the studio felt needed.

Prior to its release he worked with the Will Hays Office to ensure it would receive approval for general release. Under the Production Code, a criminal could not be seen to profit from the crime, or to go unpunished, and sin must be punished. Adding further to the problem was Harlow's overtly sexual portrayal, with several scenes in which she was partially undressed, or making obvious sexual advances.

Although the Hays Office could not ban a film as such, a refusal to issue approval for a particular film could lead exhibitors to refuse to screen it. Thalberg agreed to seventeen cuts to enable it to screen in the United States; however upon release, it still received a large number of complaints from affronted cinema patrons. The original theatrical release was banned in the United Kingdom, it was never resubmitted until 1965. The furor surrounding its release generated considerable publicity, and the film was a box-office success.