In his introduction, Roald Dahl emphasized that this episode was not a work of fiction but was based on a true story, meticulously researched, using the real character names and real places. The significance of Dahl's statement becomes clear in the final seconds of the episode.
As of February 2021, this was the last on screen performance by Toby Waldock who played the young Alois.
This episode takes place in Braunau am Inn on April 20, 1889.