John Gilbert's career was waning by the time he was hired by (at the time) a "Poverty Row studio like Columbia for this picture. His lucrative contract option had been dropped by the larger and richer MGM because his voice had tested higher than suited his masculine screen image. With his career in shambles, Gilbert had begun to drink heavily, but thanks mainly to the support of his friend
Lewis Milestone, he was hired by Columbia for this picture--with the sole condition that he remain sober throughout the production. Unfortunately, Gilbert by this time was an alcoholic unable to stay away from drinking for very long, particularly among such heavy-drinking cast members as
Walter Catlett and
Victor McLaglen. Keeping the cast sober proved impossible, even while filming at sea. In a rage at the mounting expenditures, Columbia president
Harry Cohn telegraphed director Milestone, 'Return to studio. The cost is staggering.' Milestone wired back, 'So is the cast!'