Anyone know the history of this film?

I can't understand how it was made and just who the target audience was. Given the subject matter I can't believe that anyone felt this would appeal to a wide audience and the whole "secret society" aspect of it would be offputting to the gay community. This was made around about the same time as Maurice and Torch Song Trilogy.

Given the high studio production values, I felt while watching it, that I'd stumbled across a movie from some alternate universe.

I was a bit suprised by just how beautiful Mark Lee was in this given that it had been seven years since Gallipoli. Guess that doctor's secret youth treatments must have worked! Course at the end he did look a bit more haggard but I'm guessing that that was make-up to accentuate the differene in ages between him and the son.

If anyone knows any of the behind the scenes details, I'd love to hear about it.