The U.S. trailer eliminated all traces of a romantic or sexual relationship between Frank (Sir Alan Bates) and Johnny (Gary Oldman), and presents this movie as a lighthearted comedy about a dog.
Gary Oldman and Frances Barber play husband and wife in this film. In Prick Up Your Ears (1987) they played brother and sister.
Colin Gregg had previously directed Gary Oldman in Remembrance (1982) in which Oldman again played a sailor.
Nowhere in the film is it made explicit that either of the central characters is gay/homosexual (it is only implied). During the time this film is set in (post war Britain), homosexuality was still technically illegal. This law was finally repealed in 1967.