Operation Mincemeat was a massive gamble by British naval intelligence, even long after it was known the German spy network had fallen for it. A high ranking Nazi officer, thought to be Heinrich Himmler, supposedly told Adolf Hitler he had a feeling it was a deception, but his concerns were dismissed.
This is the last screen appearance by actor Paul Ritter who died before the film was released
The story of Operation Mincemeat was previously told in the film Der Mann, den es nie gab (1956) based on the 1953 book of the same name by Ewen Montagu.
Nicholas Griffin's book, "Ping-Pong Diplomacy: The Secret History Behind the Game That Changed the World" (2014), tells the story of the history and geopolitical implications of ping pong (aka table tennis) in the 20th century. One particularly interesting thread in the book is about Ivor Montagu (Ewan's brother), who not only introduced China to the sport and was, indeed, a communist spy. Ivor had been recruited in 1940 by the Soviet Union to gather together a group of communist sympathizers in Britain, prior to the alliance of the two countries.
Lt Cdrs Montagu and Fleming and Cdr Salvador-Beare wear the "wavy Navy" rank insignia of the Volunteer Reserve, in contrast to the straight rings of the regular navy officers, like Lt Jewell and Adm Godfrey. Flt Lt Cholmondeley wears the equivalent "VR" lapel insignia of the RAF.