At the time, the biggest success of Claude Chabrol's career in France, although it gained some very disparaging reviews in several countries and was widely perceived as a "coarse misogynist jest", to quote the review in the "Monthly Film Bulletin" magazine (UK).
14th highest grossing movie of its year in France.
Although a huge success in France, Docteur Popaul (1972) was not released in Britain until 1976, where it was titled "Scoundrel in White", and it was not released in the US until 1981, where it had the title "High Heels".
The film was the first movie from Belmondo's own production company, Cerito Films.
The second film that Claude Chabrol made with actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. The first time they worked together was on Web of Passion (1959).