The 16 Sep 1922 Camera reported that Charles R. Seeling Productions had arranged to shoot the picture at Fine Arts Studios in Hollywood, CA, although the initial scenes were to be filmed on location in Rio Vista, CA. Principal photography had begun approximately two weeks earlier. It was also noted that Seeling assigned an unspecified role to “Chinese artist” William Zung. Fifty scenes had already been completed before Eddie Piel joined the cast. The actor he replaced was not identified. Advertisements in the 9 Sep 1922, 7 Oct 1922, and 25 Nov 1922 issues of Camera included Edwin Zunn and Forbes Aitken among the cast, and credited the Oriental Costume Co. with providing Chinese wardrobe items.
       The company’s return from the one-week location shoot was reported in the 23 Sep 1922 Camera. The close of production was announced in the 30 Sep 1922 edition. As stated in the 28 Oct 1922 Motion Picture News, Seeling previewed the film on 16 Oct 1922 at Tally’s Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. The 21 Oct 1922 Camera noted that he was currently in New York City to arrange distribution.
       Purple Dawn made its New York City debut on 3 May 1923 at Loew’s New York Theatre, and was released the following month by states’ rights distributor Aywon Film Corp. Among the exchanges handling the picture were Moscow Films, Inc., of Boston, MA (26 May 1923 Exhibitors Trade Review), Progress Pictures of Northern Illinois (7 Jun 1923 Film Daily), and Progress Pictures of the Chesapeake Bay region (8 Aug 1923 Film Daily). Reviews were lukewarm to negative, with the 28 Apr 1923 Motion Picture News noting the film’s realistic depiction of violence was “certain to jar upon the nerves of sensitive patrons.” The 17 May 1923 Var revealed that the title was taken from the final scene, in which a brief shot of the dawn was tinted purple.
There is some doubt as to Vernon Walker's photography credit.