Though the title character was real, the events in the film are mostly fictional. While this film was in production, rumors began circulating that co-stars Greta Garbo and Ramon Novarro were having an affair. This was untrue, but they did develop a strong friendly rapport. Novarro wears internal lifts in his boots so that the difference in height between himself and  Garbo was increased on screen. Mata Hari was censored when it was reissued in 1936 to conform to the Hays Code. The available version is 89 minutes whereas the pre-code version was 92 minutes. Among the censored parts of the film - the erotic dance to Shiva was shortened; a once famous scene of Mata Hari and Rosanoff in bed, lit only by the glowing ends of their cigarettes. The part contained a line of dialogue where her lover comments on her "ridiculously long eyelashes." This comment is brought up later in the film but the context had previously been removed.