The scenario was based on the 1928 play, La Gringa by Tom Cushing. An article in the 12 January 1930 [Cincinnati, OH] Commercial Tribune revealed that star Lenore Ulric had initially chosen the play as her next Broadway stage role before it was licensed by Fox Film Corp. to be made into a talking picture. The 24 August 1929 Los Angeles Times claimed that Ulric’s role was similar to that of her character in the recent stage production, Bird of Paradise.
       The 28 August 1929 Variety credited John Willard with adapting Cushing’s play for the screen, under the working title, Kanaka Rose. According to the 4 September 1929 issue, the production marked the motion picture debut of vaudeville comedian Roscoe Ates. The 7 September 1929 Motion Picture News noted that leading man Charles Bickford was on loan from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Principal photography was underway by 30 September 1929, as stated in that day’s edition of Film Daily. An item in the 28 October 1929 issue credited writer Elliott Lester with the picture’s story as well as the dialogue.
       A pre-release review in the 13 November 1929 Variety described one of Ulric’s costumes as a tight-fitting “light crepe frock” with a low neckline. The design was summarized as “provocative, but of what we shall not say.” Another review, in the 22 January 1930 Chicago Tribune, commended the actress on her vocal performance of the film’s theme song.
       South Sea Rose was released on 8 December 1929, preceded by a 6 December 1929 opening at the Roxy Theatre in Brooklyn, NY.
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.