The 24 Mar 1961 DV announced Captain Sinbad as the next project for King Brothers Productions. Approximately six months later, preproduction was underway, as stated in the 18 Oct 1961 Var. Location filming was planned for India. The 25 Oct 1961 Var reported that company executives Frank and Maurice King were scouting locations in London, England, Hamburg, Germany, and Bombay (later known as Mumbai), India. On 13 Dec 1961, Var revealed that the $300,000 production would include a chariot race, a battle between two elephants, and an “arena scene” requiring 3,000 background actors. Approximately $30,000 was allocated for special effects. Filming was expected to last nine months. Although the 15 Dec 1961 DV claimed that production would likely take place in Mexico, the 2 Feb 1962 LAT announced the official location as Munich, Germany. The 2 May 1962 Var identified the studio lot as Geiselgasteig. A news item in the 13 Feb 1962 DV stated that cast member Heidi Brühl was detained at Munich Airport for several hours due to a “smallpox scare” in Europe. It was also noted that actor Burr Jerger was assisting with photography and makeup. The picture marked Brühl’s U.S. screen debut. Principal photography began 15 Feb 1962, according to 28 Feb 1962 Var production charts. The 26 Feb 1962 DV noted that the Munich Symphony Orchestra was contracted to record Michel Michelet’s score. The film was referred to by its alternate title, Captain Sindbad.
       In the 18 Apr 1962 LAT, columnist Philip K. Scheuer claimed that the special effects would be achieved on set, rather than with “optical work.” Effects included simulations of actors being eaten by alligators and carnivorous plants, and Heidi Brühl “being burned alive and turned into a bird.” Twenty-seven “master sets” were built, and reportedly 30,000 background actors were needed for “spectacle scenes.” The 27 Mar 1962 LAT noted that 14,000 background actors appeared in the “Mardi Gras sequence.” The 13 Mar 1962 DV claimed that the King Brothers fired a lion from their production after it broke free and wandered the studio. According to the 9 May 1962 Var, the completion of photography was expected by 1 Jun 1962. However, the King Brothers intended to reserve space at the studio for another year.
       Casting announcements included Robert Kanter, Jorge Rado, Osman Ragheb, Armin Dahlen (13 Mar 1962 DV), and the Danish Ballet of Copenhagen (28 Feb 1962 DV). Co-star Pedro Armendáriz died of cancer on 18 Jun 1963.
       The 25 Aug 1962 LAT and 17 Apr 1963 Var announced the upcoming world premiere at the Mattaeser Palast in Munich in early 1963. No specific date appeared in either source. The 19 Mar 1963 DV noted that Anna Luise Schubert and John Schapar, the European dance team featured in the picture, planned a promotional tour of the U.S. during the summer months. Distributor Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) hosted a preview screening for reporters and exhibitors in Charlotte, NC, as stated in the 1 May 1963 Var. The 6 Mar 1963 DV noted that MGM changed plans to withhold release until Labor Day, choosing instead to debut the picture in Jun 1963. Box office reports in the 26 Jun 1963 Var indicated that the world premiere was held days earlier in Boston, MA. The film opened 26 Jun 1963 in Los Angeles, CA, and approximately one week later in New York City. The 4 Jul 1963 NYT described it as “a broad mishmash of fantasy-comedy” that “slips from mediocrity into a wildly, funny, eerie and casually beguiling adventure” in the last thirty minutes. The 5 Jul 1963 DV reported gross receipts of $1.25 million within the first two weeks.
       While the 24 Jun 1963 DV commended the special effects team, the review made reference to “some jarring transparencies,” prompting a response in the 1 Jul 1963 DV from production supervisor Leon Chooluck. The letter stated that no transparencies or process shots were used during the course of production, identifying the substandard images as a set of glass mattes created in England under the supervision of Tom Howard.
       Although Samuel B. West was given co-credit for the screenplay when the film was initially released, according to official WGA records, West was a pseudonym for writer Ian McLellan Hunter. The WGA changed the screenplay credit to read, "Screenplay by Ian McLellan Hunter and Guy Endore."