The film's opening dedication at the start of the film states: "For Sharon". Roman Polanski dedicated this movie to his late wife, Sharon Tate, who was killed in 1969 by the Manson Clan. Before Tate's death, she had read the film's source novel by Thomas Hardy and was convinced that her husband would one day make a great film based on the novel. Movie was released to the theaters exactly 10 years after her untimely death.
Though this film is set in Dorset, England, it was actually filmed in France. Director Roman Polanski was wanted on sex-related charges in the United States and could have been extradited from the UK.
Final film directed by Roman Polanski for around seven years until his mid-80s swash-buckler pirate movie Pirates (1986).
Nastassja Kinski said in a 2001 interview that after appearing nude onscreen in several films from the age of 12 to 17, and being subjected to producers and directors sexual advances during that time, Roman Polanski gave her dignity by casting her in this film because it was such a beautiful production and she didn't have to take her clothes off.