Aleksandr Ptushko demanded that only the real ship with real scarlet sails would be used. So 2,000m of scarlet silk had in fact been bought for the movie.
Vasiliy Lanovoy (Arthur Grey) wanted to surprise his wife and other guests at the resort in Yalta where the movie was shot. He did so by asking the captain of the ship that was used for the movie to sail to Yalta with all the scarlet sails showing. He said the reaction was the same as in the movie, one of disbelief and amazement.
Anastasiya Vertinskaya's debut.