The film was shot in a few weeks in Forges-les-Eaux on a small budget, but nevertheless received excellent reviews, particularly enthusiastic about the performance of Jean Poiret.
Stéphane Audran, who plays Madame Cuno, also appears in L'escargot noir (1988), an episode of the sequel TV series, as a completely different character named Catherine.
Pauline Lafont appears in this film. Her mother Bernadette Lafont appears in the sequel Inspector Lavardin (1986).