The novel had been previously adapted to screen a decade earlier as Man Called Rocca (1961), with novelist José Giovanni already co-writing and even Jean-Paul Belmondo already in the lead role (and Michel Constantin as well but in a different role). However Giovanni was unhappy with the film and decided to do this newer version himself, retaining Belmondo in the lead.
16th highest grossing movie of its year in France.
Underwent a 4K digital restoration from the original 35mm negative by the VDM laboratory.