When first sold to television in 1957, this film was retitled Parisian Belle in order to avoid confusion with New Moon (1940), which was also in the same package of over 700 MGM titles. However, whereas Parisian Belle would have been an appropriate title for the 1940 version, which followed more closely the original story, it was a misnomer for this 1930 version whose locale had been moved to Russia, and whose heroine, the Parisian Belle of the stage play and 1940 version, had now become a Russian princess. But it was so seldom broadcast at that time that nobody seemed to notice or care. Its first, and perhaps only telecast in New York City occurred on the Late, Late Show Monday 22 September 1958 on WCBS (Channel 2); in San Francisco it first aired Tuesday 1 March 1960 on KGO (Channel 7). Since that time, its original title has been restored, and its safely housed in the Turner Classic Film Library, from which it is occasionally aired on Turner Classic Movies.
The operetta, "The New Moon," opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 19 September 1928 and closed on 14 December 1929 after 509 performances. The leads were played by Robert Halliday and Evelyn Herbert, and the supporting cast included Gus Shy, who is also in this movie.
Some production charts included Hale Hamilton and Marie Mosquini in the cast, but they were not seen in the movie.
Modern sources include in this film the songs "Marianne," Funny Little Sailor Man" and "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" (all from the original stage production), but they were not heard.
A second film version of New Moon (1930) was remade in 1940 also titled New Moon (1940), and the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) TV Series The New Moon (1989), are all considered to be based on the stage play The New Moon.