According to a 1987 "Films in Review" article Jane Powell said, "It was a terrible movie. Dwan had no interest in it; and Dana Andrews was drinking at the time. It was really a fiasco! The best thing about it was that it gave the family a great vacation in Acapulco."
This was one of the last films produced for RKO. By the time it was completed, RKO had ceased production and distribution. It was released through Warner Brothers.
Of Jane Powell's 19 features released between 1944 and 1958, her Hollywood era, this was the only film not to receive a contemporary New York Times review.
The script explained Polynesian Powell's blue eyes by mentioning that a Swedish sailor had been on the island years before.
Jane Powell agreed to do the movie because her character would die at the end. Despite this, it was implied that the angry medicine man who was supposed to harpoon her only nicked her.