The character Braham, an obnoxious right-wing novelist, is widely believed to be a caricature of Kingsley Amis, whose lesser known accomplishments include writing obscure James Bond books. Charles Gray, who plays Braham, played a Bond villain in Los diamantes son eternos (1971).
The original Broadway production of "The Philanthropist" by Christopher Hampton opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater on March 15, 1971, ran for 64 performances, and was nominated for the 1971 Tony Award for the Best Play.