Sonia Orwell, widow of George Orwell, objected to the changed ending, and had this movie withdrawn from circulation.
The character played by Sir Michael Redgrave is called "O'Brien" in the original novel, but, as Edmond O'Brien was cast as Winston Smith, the name was changed to "O'Connor" for this movie.
During filming, Jan Sterling (Julia of the Outer Party) was pregnant with her son Adams Douglas, and so she was given a certificate by the crew proclaiming him to be an honorary member of the cast.
Donald Pleasence (R. Parsons) also appeared in the 1954 television version, playing the character of Syme, which in this movie is amalgamated with that of Parsons.
Second-billed Michael Redgrave, who as a young man had been very left-wing, was on the list of communists and communist sympathizers that George Orwell passed on to the British government.