Based on the book "The Cradle of the Deep", by Joan Lowell (1902-1967), published in 1929 as an autobiography. It was chosen by the Book of the Month Club and became a best-seller. However, it was soon revealed to be a work of fiction.
Filmed without sound. All sound effects were added in post-production.
Most of the location shooting seems to have been done in Chichicastenango and Antigua, neither of which is anywhere near the Rio Dulce where the story is set. Scenes from Chichicastenango, the native village, include film of the Sunday market and scenes shot around the small church of El Calvario. The Spanish colonial ruins of Antigua Guatemala stand in for "lost" Mayan city in the jungle.
The climatic fire scene on some theatrical prints was hand-colored by Gustav Brock (1881-1945), a noted miniature portrait painter.
Ashton Dearholt met Ula Holt (Florence Eugene Watson) around the time of the filming of this movie. Ula later lived with Ashton. It's unknown if they married.