Universal bought His Mother's People for its Bluebird line, the 23 September 1916 Motion Picture News reported. The author's name was variously given as H. R. Burky, J. R. Burky, J. R. Burkey, and John Burkey. A couple of sources referred to His Mother's People as either a novel or short story, but no such published work could be found.
       The 10 February 1917 Motion Picture News reported that director Henry McRae and a company of actors were filming His Mother's People—"the temporary title"— at Elizabeth Lake in northern Los Angeles County, "where all necessary exteriors scenes can be made." Despite its Southern California location, Lake Elizabeth's high altitude provided the film with "a semi-winter atmosphere," according to the 3 March 1917 issue of the same magazine. Some filming was done in or around San Bernardino, CA, the 24 February 1917 Motion Picture News added. The 3 March 1917 Motography noted that McRae was completing His Mother's People.
       According to the 17 March 1917 Moving Picture Weekly (Universal's house publication), the studio's costume department provided Claire McDowell with Indian garb "correct in every detail" for her role in what was now being called The Bronze Bride. Her outfit was "made of supple deerskin, fringed in the traditional manner, with beads, belt of leopard skin, headband, and moccasins embroidered with dyed porcupine quills—all complete. The costume is the real thing, not a mere property room imitation." A full summary of the film, illustrated by several photographs, appeared in the 31 March 1917 issue of the studio magazine.
       In the 7 April 1917 Moving Picture World, reviewer Robert C. McElravy wrote, "Consistent development, picturesque locations and some admirable acting at the close by a clever juvenile name Frankie Lee do much to lift this production above the ordinary....[C]redit must be given to the small boy for putting a decided punch into the story at just the right moment. His recognition of his mother, when she is surrounded by a circle of hard-hearted social dictators, save the situation and brings a happy solution to the problem." An item in the 24 March 1917 Moving Picture Weekly described how McRae got that "star" performance out of the little boy, Frankie Lee." "At the end of the picture [his mother] is restored to him, but she is wearing the garb of civilization and he does not recognize her. At last he takes out the stuffed rabbit which has been his favorite toy, and this leads him to realize that the strange woman is really his mother. Then he throws his arms around her neck and hugs her. 'Hug her tight!' cried Director McRae. 'That's right. Eat her up! Bite her ear!' Frankie literally obeyed, and poor Miss McDowell gave a shriek of pain. Fortunately, shrieks do not register on the screen, and McRae assured her that great realism had been added in the picture."
       Wid's praised the early exterior scenes, but felt the film should have been at least a reel shorter.
       Although the film's official release date was 2 April 1917, the 27 March 1917 Dispatch of Moline, IL, announced that The Bronze Bride was opening that day at the city's American Theater. It opened two days later in Chicago, according to the 29 March 1917 Chicago Tribune.
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.