Ayn Rand was originally hired to write the story, but she wanted to make it about two rival architects instead of rival construction workers, so her work was rejected. She took her idea and eventually turned it into her novel The Fountainhead.
Referring to the film as The Skyscraper, the 25 May 1927 Film Daily listed the picture as one of the forthcoming features from Cecil B. De Mille's Producers Distributing Corp. (P.D.C.), set to star William Boyd. The 10 Jun 1927 Motion Picture News credited the original story idea to Dudley Murphy.
According to the 23 Oct 1927 Film Daily, Frederic Chapin had recently completed writing the adaptation, but he was not credited for his contribution.
On 8 Nov 1927, FD announced that Howard Higgin had been signed to direct the film, now being referred to simply as Skyscraper. Principal photography began on 28 Nov 1927 at De Mille Studios in Culver City, CA, as listed in a 7 Jan 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World production chart.
The 18 Dec 1927 FD added Wesley Barry to the cast, and the 2 Feb 1928 issue reported that production had recently finished.
Although the 5 Feb 1928 FD announced that a sequel was in the works by De Mille, with Higgin and the original cast returning, the picture was never produced.
Skyscraper was released on 9 Apr 1928, according to a 14 Jul 1928 Motion Picture News release chart. The 11 Apr 1928 Var review indicated that the film had opened in New York City at the Paramount Theatre. The review deemed the picture "beautifully acted and ably directed," noting its "excellent sentimental vein, touched and colored with delightful comedy and all tinged with a certain whimsical quality." Writer Elliott Clawson received an Academy Award nomination in 1930 for Skyscraper. (American Film Institute)