After the J. Arthur Rank Organisation insisted that Sir John Mills had to play the priest, Sir Dirk Bogarde became so incensed that he told director Roy Ward Baker: "I promise you, if Johnny plays the Priest, I will make life unbearable for everyone concerned."
Introducing a clip from this movie in the rather staid context of the BBC's Best of British (1987) program in the late 1980s, Sir John Mills openly acknowledged its homosexual overtones.
Sir John Mills has stated in interviews that Sir Dirk Bogarde was one of the very few actors with whom he disliked working.
Mylène Demongeot (Locha) said in her memoirs that she received no help from director Roy Ward Baker during the shooting of this movie. Only Sir Dirk Bogarde (Comachi) helped her the best he could.