John Wayne, Tyrone Power, and Ava Gardner were interested in the story which was set in the Amazon jungle. Darryl Zanuck sent Fuller to Mato Grosso to develop ideas for the film. In the story a woman helps her husband to escape from prison. They hire a jaguar hunter to help them to cross Mato Grosso. Don't blame him too much.
Men do crazy things under the spell of fear and panic.
The jungle brings out the best and the worst in people. It was self-preservation. His mind snapped. It's just that he loved himself a little more. Barbara Stanwyck is Jessica Drummond, a ruthless, whip-wielding woman.