Trivia

Based on the true story of Gavin Maxwell, who bought an otter in London and brought it back to his home in Scotland, only to discover that this was a subspecies of otter not yet recorded. Maxwell gave his name to the new sub species' title: Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli.

Gavin Maxwell, author of the source book, died in 1969, the same year as the release of the film.

The title of the movie and autobiographical book is taken from a poem by Kathleen Raine, who had considered the book's author, Gavin Maxwell, the love of her life. In reality Maxwell was gay, a fact that did not become known to the public until 1976 when his friend Richard Frere published a memoir entitled "Maxwell's Ghost".

Leads Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna reunite from the hit movie Vivre libre (1966), a fact which was emphasised in the advertising for this film.

In the opening scene of a busy London street, a Lady Godiva-like character is briefly seen riding a horse in an urban area. She is not naked, but is wearing a flesh-coloured body-stocking/bathing-suit.