 Selznick based this on the Libby Holman (qv) murder scandal. Star  Jean Harlow felt the story had disturbing similarities to suicide of  her second husband, Paul Bern (qv). Jean Harlow believed she was  cast in the picture in a deliberate attempt to capitalize on that  event, and she refused the role at first. In  William Powell (I) (qv)s autobiography, he says he convinced her  to accept the role rather than be suspended.