This movie was filmed just prior to the outbreak of the Korean War in June of 1950, and used American warships to portray Japanese ships. One such ship, the U.S.S. Orleck (DD 886), exists to this day after serving in the Korean War, the Vietnam War and being sold for a while to the Turkish Navy, and is permanently docked in Lake Charles, LA, where it serves as a museum.
The bamboo dance in the movie is known as the Tinikling dance. It involves two people hitting bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. It is a Philippine traditional national dance that is still performed to this day at Fiesta.
Director Fritz Lang only made the film to pay his bills. In later years, he actively denied even making it.
In the book, which was based on a true story, Jeanne Martinez was not French, but a Filipina.