in february 1948 walter wanger bought the screen rights to the story as a vehicle for susan hayward who wanger had under contract. hayward reportedly is the one who prompted wagner to make the purchase. the producer hired jan fortune to write a script and announced he intended to make the film later that year for eagle lion. the film was also known a "queen of the pirates". it was to be part of a four picture deal wanger had with eagle lion, the others being "tulsa", "the bastille" and "the blank wall".