 At the time the film was notable for using the leads of then popular Warner Bros. Television shows, "Cheyenne" (Walker), "Lawman" (Russell), "77 Sunset Strip" (Byrnes), and "The Alaskans" (Danton) as well as Warners contract stars such as Andra Martin, Claude Akins, Rhodes Reason and Gary Vinson.The novel was based on the real life Luther Kelly.Warner Bros announced the project in August 1956 saying that John Wayne would star.