Alexander Mackendrick was not personally very satisfied with the finished film as he felt that it concentrated too much on his own personal concerns and not enough on things relevant to anyone else.
The Maggie was played by two boats in the film, the Boer and the Inca.
Tommy Kearins, who plays Dougie, was selected for the role after being spotted in a Scouts "Gang Show", working backstage. After being interviewed by Ealing, he spent 3 months filming on Islay. He was paid 3 times what his father made in the Clyde shipyards.