The title is from the words of Brutus in William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", which Poirot (in the novel) quotes: "There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to Fortune". (Poirot is explaining "it is very Shakespearian".)
Three cast members had previously acted in Poirot movies starring Peter Ustinov as Poirot. Tim Pigott-Smith previously played a leading part in Dead Man's Folly (1986). Celia Imrie had a small, uncredited part as a maid in Death on the Nile (1978). Additionally, David Suchet's first foray into the world of Poirot was actually as Inspector Japp in Thirteen at Dinner (1985).