The movie is produced by William Cagney, James Cagney's younger brother. He produced several of his brother's movies, including City for Conquest (1940), Blood on the Sun (1945), The Time of Your Life (1948), Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) and A Lion Is in the Streets (1953). He was credited as an associate producer on Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). He also handled his brother's business affairs, negotiating several of his Hollywood studio contracts.
Johnny Come Lately was preserved by the Academy Film Archive, in conjunction with the UCLA Film and Television Archive, in 2013.
When this picture was exhibited at the Victoria Theatre in Harlem, Hattie McDaniel received marquee billing along with James Cagney.
This was the first film produced by William Cagney Productions in March 1943.
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 9, 1948 with James Cagney reprising his film role.