Harlow and Gable made six films together, and "Hold Your Man" was the third, following on the great success of 1932's "Red Dust". Writer Anita Loos also had an extended working relationship with Harlow. This was the second of five films they made together, their first being "Red-Headed Woman". Under the tightened reign of the Hays Office, Loos was forced by Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM, to have Harlow's character be punished for her sins (pre-marital sex among them), which is why Ruby spends time in a reformatory, and also why Ruby and Eddie have to get married. Harlow and Gable's other films together include "The Secret Six" and "China Seas", both with Wallace Beery, "Wife vs. Secretary" with Myrna Loy and James Stewart, and "Saratoga" with Lionel Barrymore.