When this film was released in 1960,
Peter Sellers had become an internationally-acclaimed star of comedies, but had never been seen in a serious drama like this violent thriller. People were so unused to see him playing someone unpleasant and aggressive that the film was a great critical and financial flop. Sellers himself, perhaps defensively, dismissed his performance sarcastically as "my attempt to be
Rod Steiger". However, over the years, the film gained a small, but vociferous cult following and Sellers's work in it has been much praised.
