Film historian Nick Redman mentions in his commentary included in the BFI edition of the movie that, at the time of its original release, this was said to be a movie "starring two nobodies".
Filming took place during a summer that was extraordinarily wet even by British standards, and the numerous outdoor scenes in the beautiful summer weather had to be shot during short breaks in the clouds.
Part of the movie is slightly out of focus. This is not due to its age or careless restoration, nor is it intentional. Director Pat O'Connor says in an interview included in the BFI Blu-ray/DVD edition released in 2016 that he was furious about it at the time.
This is the first of two movies in which Colin Firth played a stutterer. The other being Le Discours d'un roi (2010).