The castle of Marlinspike (Moulinsard in French) is based on an existing French castle: Cheverny, on the Loire river. Unfortunately, the real castle has two extra towers on each side, recently added. For the movie, they chose the castle of Ecquevilly, which was was at this time a sanatorium - now the city hall. Interestingly enough, two other movies took place in this small city : "Les risques du metier" from
André Cayatte (the school is in fact the former city hall), and
The Longest Day (1962) from
Ken Annakin.
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