The working titles for this film were Joe Palooka in Hitch-Hike Killers, Joe Palooka in Hitch-Hikers and Triple Cross. Although January Jeffries is credited onscreen as the writer of the film's screenplay, a October 1, 1997 Hollywood Reporter article states that the screenplay was actually by blacklisted writer Henry Blankfort, who used the pseudonym "Jan Jeffries." Joe Palooka in Triple Cross was one of several credits the WGA restored to Blankfort in the 1990s.
       The film's stars, Joe Kirkwood, Jr. and Cathy Downs, were married and Joe Palooka in Triple Cross was the first film in which they performed together. According to a June 21, 1951 Hollywood Reporter news item, high school teacher Genevieve Kendall was to portray a teacher in the film, but her appearance in the film is doubtful as there were no teacher roles in the viewed print. Hollywood Reporter production charts add Ferris Taylor to the cast, but his appearance in the final film has not been confirmed. The film was shot on location at Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, CA. This is the last of eleven films in the "Joe Palooka" series produced by Monogram. For more information on the series, please consult the Series Index and see the above entry for Joe Palooka, Champ in AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1941-50.