Studio production chief Darryl F. Zanuck instructed the writers to incorporate unused footage shot for the Twentieth Century-Fox pirate film The Black Swan (1942), starring Tyrone Power.
"I would have died if I'd lost the part of Anne," said Jean Peters. "The costumes are delirious, any girl would look good in them.; they have tight-fitting trousers and open throat shirt down to here, and free top boots --- I'm in rags, really but so picturesque and flattering. And the character is terrific, she's a complete primitive, a girl raised by Blackbeard, the pirate, who knows no other life than the law of might. Just an animal. I can't wait to begin it. Of course, I'm aware it's a dangerous part, too. You could make an awful fool of yourself if you went overboard."
Anne of the Indies (1951) based on the short story "Anne of the Indies" by Herbert Ravenel Sass in The Saturday Evening Post (1 Nov 1947).
In a December 28, 1950 conference, Darryl F. Zanuck indicated that Valentina Cortese was being considered for the role of "Anne." Louis Jourdan had recently had his contract with David O. Selznick bought by Fox. He had appeared in Bird of Paradise (1951) for Fox with Debra Paget and she was teamed again with him in Anne of the Indies (1951). But January 1951 Cortesa was out as the lead --- due to her accent, reportedly. Constance Smith was considered before the title role of Captain Anne Providence was given to Jean Peters in her first starring role. Later Zanuck said the studio had developed Peters "for seven years" and she "comes through big" in the film.