This movie generated a lot of controversy when first broadcast because of a scene that had two women in bed with a man, including having the two women kiss.
Major Smith's seduction by a belly dancer and the subsequent intelligence compromise is based upon historical fact. Smith was far more overweight, and the belly dancer lived on a house boat. Smith would leave his briefcase near the entrance at the front of the boat. While he was "distracted" by the belly dancer in her chambers at the rear of the boat, a Nazi spy who was hiding in a closet near the front would open the briefcase and photograph the contents. The book "A Bodyguard of Lies" a history of deception operations during war, covers this.
Even though "The key to Rebecca" is David Hemmings' television film debut, he had previously directed five feature films.
As Captain Vandam's son Billy, this is Charlie Condu's television and television film debut.