Feyder's scenario very closely follows Don José's own account of his story and his fatal relation with the gypsy Carmen in the third chapter of Mérimée's short novel.
Based on Meller's first screen appearance, "Los Arlequines de Seda y Oro", where two brothers are separated and reunited as adults, he a famed torero (bullfighter) she a singer raised by gypsies. This is a reduced version centered on her character.
