According to Robert Osborne, the primary host of Turner Classic Movies, María Montez had a stipulation in her contract that she had to have top billing in any film in which she appeared, so her name comes first in the opening credits, despite her secondary role.

In 1660, Charles Stuart (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.), deposed as king of England by Oliver Cromwell and the Roundheads, is in exile in the Netherlands with a few loyalists, awaiting the right opportunity to return.

Whilst bartering in a local marketplace, he meets Katie (Rita Corday), a Dutch farm owner and flower seller.

When unrest in England presents both opportunity and danger, Charles's chief advisor, Sir Edward Hyde (Nigel Bruce), recommends he hide somewhere, neither too close for Roundhead assassins to find him, nor too far for news to reach him of further developments.

Shortly afterward, there arrives another guest, Countess Anabella de Courteuil (María Montez), an old lover of Charles's and an emissary from King Louis of France.

Knowing that Katie owes 3000 guilders to her cousin, Jan (Otto Waldis), Charles has the music box sold and pays off the debt without her knowledge.

The shorter version ends with Charles leaving for England, while the longer has a further scene in which two courtiers casually discuss a plaque that is erected to his stay.

[4][5][6] In January 1941, it was announced Fairbanks had bought the screen rights to a novel and would appear in a film based it, which he would make with Hal Roach.

I'm not necessarily wedded to it; our stories will be of varied dramatic content, but I find that I can whip up more enthusiasm for those of a romantic and slightly fantastic nature, like The Exile.

"[13] This was Ophüls' first film in Hollywood, after he was fired from his initial project, Vendetta, due to disagreements with producer Howard Hughes.

Due to this being his first American film, Ophüls was paid $22,600, compared to the usual $75,000 or more that established Hollywood directors commanded.

(In the end credits would read "Starring Maria Montez, Henry Daniell, Nigel Bruce, Robert Coote and introduces Paule Croset with Douglas Fairbanks".

[24] The film initially performed well at the box office,[25] but then suffered after the release of Captain from Castile and wound up losing money.