The film was based on an original script by the husband and wife team of Janet Green and John McCormick, who had written Sapphire and Victim for Dearden and Relph.

Despite the explosive nature of the material and its sideshoots (such as, whether denying a man his religious right to "sacrifice" his child smacks of persecution) the film is completely uncommitted.

Meticulously it gives free speech to every shade of opinion on the subject, while taking sides with none ...The film will offend no one, with the possible exception of street-corner sensation-mongers.

Emotionally, however, the theme cannot really fail to be moving, and the torment of husband and wife is well expressed by Michael Craig and Janet Munro, though others in the cast wear their working-class air less convincingly.

"[6] The New York Times wrote of the film, "in avoiding blatant bias, mawkish sentimentality and theatrical flamboyance, it makes a statement that is dramatic, powerful and provocative.