This is a remake of Outward Bound (1930) in which Leslie Howard reprised his role from the stage play of the same name.
Dudley Digges and Sydney Greenstreet each played Gutman in different versions of The Maltese Falcon: The Maltese Falcon (1931) and The Maltese Falcon (1941), respectively. Here, Greenstreet plays Thompson, the part Digges played in the previous version, Outward Bound (1930).
Eleanor Parker, seen here in her first A-movie starring role, had in fact screen tested for the role ultimately played by Faye Emerson but was given the female lead role for which Joan Leslie had been announced. Leslie's replacement was reportedly necessitated by her being detained filming Rhapsody in Blue (1945), which production fell seriously behind schedule.
The play "Outward Bound" opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 7 January 1924 and closed in May 1924 after 144 performances. The opening night cast included Dudley Digges, Leslie Howard, J.M. Kerrigan, Alfred Lunt, and Beryl Mercer. There was one Broadway revival in 1938, directed by Otto Preminger.