Terence Rattigan's original one-act play ended with Crocker-Harris telling the headmaster that he wished to speak last at the closing ceremony. His apologetic speech to the students was written by Rattigan especially for the screen.
In 1993, director Mike Figgis was dressing for a dinner party at the home of Ridley Scott's producer and happened to switch on this version of the Terence Rattigan play. He became so riveted that he arrived late to the party. He explained to his host the reason for his tardiness. His host said that, coincidentally, he himself had recently optioned the remake rights and was looking for a director. Figgis went on to direct the 1994 remake (Les leçons de la vie (1994)) with Albert Finney.
With the exception of the opening credits and the ending of the film, Anthony Asquith did not use background music in this film in order to get the realistic effect. Between the start and the ending of the film, the only music heard is at the church in the beginning.
The title refers to a translation of "Agamemnon." Of the many such translations, one of Crocker-Harris' pupils gives him the version written by poet Robert Browning.
Michael Redgrave was 43 when he made the film, the exact age that Crocker-Harris was supposed to be.