Contemporary reviewers noted the similarities between this film and RKO's earlier The Informer (1935), also starring Victor McLaglen.
RKO production chief Pandro S. Berman bought the film rights to the novel as a vehicle he intended for Chester Morris.
Lucille Ball was cast as the female lead but had to be replaced as she was recovering from an appendectomy when production began.
The same year as this film Victor McLaglen and Barry Fitzgerald also appeared in Pacific Liner (1939).