This is the second time that a movie that dealt with apartheid in South Africa starred Sidney Poitier and Sir Michael Caine, they also joined forces in The Wilby Conspiracy (1975).
Reunited Sir Michael Caine with director Joseph Sargent. The two collaborated on the infamous Jaws: The Revenge (1987). Tina Lifford also appears on both movies.
Part of a series of various Nelson Mandela docu-drama/biopic films, the others were:
- Mandela (1987), where Mandela was played by Danny Glover.
- Goodbye Bafana (2007), where Mandela was played by Dennis Haysbert.
- Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013), where Mandela was played by Idris Elba.
- Invictus (2009), where Mandela was played by Morgan Freeman.
The film cast includes two Oscar winners: Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine.