Sir Alec Guinness and Sir Anthony Quayle made this movie during the two-month break in the shooting of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), when the production moved from Jordan to Spain. Upon finishing this movie, both returned to Lawrence of Arabia (1962).
The tune to which the sailors dance the hornpipe is Cock O' the North, by an unknown composer. There is no printed record of it prior to 1816, but it is quite possible that it was known as a folk tune during or prior to 1797.
The HMS Defiant was 'played' by the 'Marcel B Surdo,' a wooden cod fishing boat rebuilt as a mid-size late 18th Century frigate. It was a very accurate replica, and was featured in several films set in this period.
The ship which played the Defiant, the Marcel B Surdo, sank at her dock in Tampa, Fl in October of 1981. She had been neglected for many years and sank while being prepared for a rebuild. The US Coast Guard deemed her a hazard to shipping resulting the the wreck being blown up and disposed of.
Columbia did not want Dirk Bogarde for the role of Lieutenant Scott-Padget. He was only cast when Alec Guinness threatened to pull out of the film, telling Columbia, "No Dirk, no Alec."
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