Timothy Spall and Rafe Spall, who play Mr. Emerson and his son George Emerson, are in real life father and son.
The film takes place in 1912 and 1922.
Timothy Spall and Sophie Thompson have both appeared in the Harry Potter films, as Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail and Mafalda Hopkirk, respectively. The 1987 film also featured two actors from the Harry Potter films, Maggie Smith and Helena Bonham Carter. Sophie Thompson's sister is actress Emma Thompson, who played Bonham Carter's sister in Howard's End.