Loosely based on The Brigand by Alexandre Dumas, the film is set in the Napoleonic era in 1804 in the mythical Iberian nation of "Mandorra".

The scheming Quinn plans a "premeditated accident" to King Lorenzo by giving him a hunting weapon that is rigged to fire backwards.

With the real King unable to perform his duties, the swashbuckling distant relative Carlos DeLago, late of the Sultan of Morocco's Guard steps in to save the Kingdom.

[3] In August 1950 Small announced that he would make two films fot Columbia starring Dexter, The Brigand, and a remake of Valentino's 1921 romantic drama The Sheik.

[4] In May 1951 Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., who worked on Lornna Doone, was reportedly writing the script of the film[5] while Karlson was announced as director.