When filming began on this movie in late-summer 1965, Tommy Kirk was on probation with Walt Disney Studios after an arrest for marijuana possession on Christmas Eve 1964. Although later cleared by the District Attorney's office, he was immediately replaced after the arrest by Michael Anderson Jr. for the role of the youngest son in the John Wayne movie Los hijos de Katie Elder (1965), for which principal shooting was to begin January 4, 1965. Newspapers of March 20, 1965, reported that Kirk had signed a five-year contract with American-International Pictures and on June 3, although details were not given, newspapers reports about Kirk stated that "His recent bout with the police in a mid-west city didn't do his clean cut kid image any good and his career with the Disney films seems over."
Famously skewered by Joel and the bots in Season 3, Episode 4 of "Mystery Science Theater 3000."
Partially filmed aboard the S.S. Catalina that was in service from 1924 to 1975. It could carry 2,000 passengers on the 2.5 hour, 26 mile trip between Los Angeles and Santa Catalina Island. From 1942 to 1946 it served as a troop ferry in San Francisco during WWII. Over it's service life it is said to have transported more passengers than any other ship in history--estimated at 25,000,000. After being retired for faster and more economical vessels in 1975 it was purchased by a private individual and moved between various ports in California and Mexico. In 1997 it broke free of her moorings at Ensenada, Mexico and ran aground, remaining abandoned until it was broken up and scrapped in 2009.
The Cascades perform an early song written by Ray Davies of The Kinks.
Tommy Kirk was signed to a four-picture contract with Executive Pictures Corporation. He made no films after this one.