The film was a critical and commercial disaster in the United States.
In September 2002 the London Institute of Pataphysics recreated Alistair Grant's pieces for the film (down to Magnus Irvin's pyjama'd reworking of Tony's bicycle action painting, itself inspired by former Royal College of Art student Bill Green's output) at London's The Foundry, presenting the exhibition as if it were a retrospective of genuine unknown artist Anthony Hancock.
George Sanders had a clause in his contract allowing him to purchase all of Sir Charles Brewer's Savile Row suits for half price. Equally cannily, the character's car was the actor's own, which he leased out to the production for a fee.
Bosley Crowther in The New York Times wrote: "Norman Wisdom can move over. The British have found a low comedian who is every bit as low as he is and even less comical". He thought the film was derivative.
Writers Galton and Simpson suggested a cameo role for Tony's (until-recently) costar in BBC TV's "Hancock's Half Hour (1956)," Sidney James, possibly as the Customs Official. They recall their lead actor vetoing this idea, though James did attend the film's Plaza premiere in London's Haymarket.