The movie was mostly funded by Jack Bruce, who was the managing director of Commonwealth Film Laboratories.

[4] Shooting went for a month and was marked by a number of difficulties, including constant rain, poor sound, and the loss of 2,000 feet (610 m) of exposed film which had to be reshot.

The shipwreck scene was completed in the studio of Commonwealth Film Laboratories in Sydney, being staged with models.

[9] Early newspaper reports that the film was based on a story by Bruce Bairnsfather were scotched by his less famous brother, Captain T. D. Bairnsfather (died 18 April 1949), an employee of Sydney radio station 2KY, who claimed the credit (or took the blame).

Actors Brian Abbot and Leslie Hay-Simpson elected to stay on the island for a few weeks after filming, intending to sail back to the mainland together in a 16-foot (4.9 m) open boat, called the Mystery Star, which Abbot brought over with him.