After the success of Easy Rider (1969), Universal Studios hit upon the idea to let young filmmakers make "semi-independent" films for low budgets in hopes of generating similar profits. The idea was to make five movies for low budgets ($1 million or less), not interfere in the filmmaking process, and give the directors final cut. The other movies were: Der weite Ritt (1971), The Last Movie (1971), Lautlos im Weltraum (1972), Tagebuch eines Ehebruchs (1970), Asphaltrennen (1971) and Minnie und Moskowitz (1971).
Director Milos Forman told the actors during the strip poker scene near the end of the film to just improvise the scene in order to get real reactions out of each other.
Uncredited Carly Simon is one of the audition singers.