This movie and The Hotel New Hampshire (1984) were the first screen roles of Joely Richardson. This movie was Richardson's first significant part in a movie.
This movie was notable for its distinguished English cast of Vanessa Redgrave, Tom Wilkinson, Joely Richardson, Sir Ian Holm, and Dame Judi Dench, with the latter two being longtime associates of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
It is widely believed that writer and director David Hare created the role of Jean Travers (Vanessa Redgrave) in order to examine Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a product of British history.
Despite the title, most of the movie was not filmed in the town of "Wetherby" in Yorkshire. However, a scene that sees Jean Travers (Vanessa Redgrave) in a village hall was filmed in Wetherby St. John's Church Halls. Members of the congregation were invited to be extras, including a young Guy Smithson, aged eleven.