Bushrod Gentry mentions going to the Northwest Territories several times. This would place the time of the film somewhere between 1787 and 1803. It encompassed and area that would eventually become the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. In the scenes regarding Cadmus getting spectacles, George Washington is spoken of as if he is still alive, so that would narrow the date ranger further to 1787 and 1799.
Third and final film in four years to co-star Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker, who play lovers in all three films. The other two films are Valley of the Kings (1954) and Above and Beyond (1952).
MGM borrowed James Arness from Wayne-Fellows Productions for this picture. Co-founded by John Wayne and producer Robert Fellows as Wayne-Fellows Productions in 1952, the company adopted the name Batjac Productions in 1956 and produced 26 films, 2 television specials, and 1 television series.
Cyril J. Mockridge's score was conducted (uncredited) by Miklós Rózsa. This was Mockridge's only picture at MGM, on loan from 20th Century Fox.