Jacque Charrier was initially cast in the title role but changed his mind few days before shooting started as he was concerned that playing an impotent would be damaging for his reputation as the husband of Bridgette Bardot. The director called Mastroianni to replace him only 4 days before shooting started (as stated by Mastroianni in an interview at the CSC available online).
Underwent a 4K restoration in 2017 by the Studio Cine lab in Rome and the Hiventy lab in Paris.