The film did so unexpectedly well in the States that Columbia Pictures did market research to find out why so many people had gone to it. Their answer: Sidney Poitier.
The producers sought permission to film in the British Museum for the outing sequence, were denied only a few days prior to filming, although stills photography was permitted. Stills photographers Laurie Ridley and Dennis C. Stone were given a free hand, following the cast throughout the museum, creating the iconic montage sequence for the movie.
The band at the dance, The Mindbenders, was the original backing band for Wayne Fontana. Fontana and the band had a hit with "Game of Love" while the group themselves had a hit with "Groovy Kind of Love". Eric Stewart from The Mindbenders went onto greater success as part of 10cc.
The South African Publications Control Board banned the film, claiming it was "offensive to see a black male teaching a class of white children".